Volunteering of Russian youth in the structure of employment
Research Article
How to Cite
Romashkina G.F., Agafonova D.Y. Volunteering of Russian youth in the structure of employment. Science. Culture. Society. 2025. Vol. 31. No. 3. P. 41-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.3.3 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of volunteer activities among Russian youth as a special form of engagement and its role in the formation of human capital. The analysis is based on microdata from the 2024 Sample Survey of the Labour Force conducted by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) and covers a representative subsample of the young population (aged 15–35). Analytical methods include mean‐comparison tests (Fisher’s and Student’s criteria) and stepwise logistic regression, aimed at estimating the influence of predictors on the probability of participation in four main forms of volunteering: fundraising, territory beautification, animal assistance, and social work. The key findings indicate that young volunteers constitute 4.3% of the total youth population in the country. Irregular and informal forms of participation prevail. Volunteering activity increases among older youth groups. The analysis supports the hypothesis of a shift in the functions of volunteering at different stages of socialization. Rural youth are more frequently involved in environmental improvement and animal assistance, while urban youth are more active in fundraising. Women are more likely to participate in social forms of volunteering, whereas men are more involved in fundraising. Flexible employment types among youth (remote or informal work) increase the likelihood of participation in fundraising, environmental, and animal-related activities. Secondary and vocational education are more commonly associated with participation in social and environmental projects, whereas higher education correlates more with fundraising. Empirical evidence does not support the hypothesis of a direct link between youth volunteerism and the accumulation of human capital. The article also highlights the limitations and barriers in research and social practices related to youth volunteering.
Keywords:
volunteering, youth, human capital, employment, social activity
References
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10. Bruno B., Fiorillo D. Why without pay? Intrinsic motivation in the unpaid labour supply. The Journal of Socio-Economics. 2012;41(5):659–669. DOI 10.1016/j.socec.2012.05.020.
11. Downward P., Hallmann K., Rasciute S. Volunteering and leisure activity in the United Kingdom: a longitudinal analysis of males and females. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 2020;49(4):757–775. DOI 10.1177/0899764020901815. EDN DKNSXE.
12. Nezhina T. G., Petukhova K. A., Chechetkina N. I., Mindarova I. S. Motivation of youth participation in the volunteer movement. Public Administration Issues. 2014;(3):49–71. (In Russ.).
13. Belyaeva L. A., Zelenev I. A., Prokhoda V. A. Volunteering in Russia: History and attitudes of the contemporary youth. RUDN Journal of Sociology. 2021;21(4):825–838. (In Russ.). DOI 10.22363/2313-2272-2021-21-4-825-838.
14. Uzyumova N. V., Kiseleva N. I. Volunteer activity as a factor of professional students' development. The Eurasian Scientific Journal. 2023;15(S2):68.
15. Pevnaya M. V., Minchenko D. V., Belov A. A. Motivation in self-regulation of youth volunteer activities. Science. Culture. Society. 2023;29(3):53–68. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2023.29.3.2.
16. Fedorova M. N. Volunteering as a non-market form of the development of human potentiality. The Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2021;(3):146–157. (In Russ.). DOI 10.52180/2073-6487_2021_3_146_157.
17. Trokhina A. V. Volunteering as a special form of employment. Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2012;(12):111–120. (In Russ.).
18. Zabelina O. V., Mirzabalaeva F. I., Vega A. Y. Volunteering as a new form of employment. Russian Journal of Labour Economics. 2019;6(2):775–786. (In Russ.). DOI 10.18334/et.6.2.40692.
2. Becker G. S. Human capital: a theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education. Chicago : University of Chicago Press; 1964.
3. Rego A., Zózimo R., Correia M. J., Ross A. Bridging volunteering and the labour market: a proposal of a soft skills matrix. Voluntary Sector Review. 2016;7(1):89–99. DOI 10.1332/204080516X14537236936186.
4. Cook P., Jackson N. Valuing volunteering: a route to professional development: views from VSO volunteers and managers. London: Chartered Management Institute; 2006. ISBN 9780859464406.
5. Souto-Otero M., Ulicna D., Schaepkens L., Bognar V. Study on the impact of non-formal education in youth organisations on young people’s employability. Brussels: European Youth Forum; 2013.
6. Bruno B., Fiorillo D. Voluntary work and wages. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics. 2016;87(2):175–202. DOI 10.1111/apce.12090.
7. Wilson J., Mantovan N., Sauer R. M. The economic benefits of volunteering and social class. Social Science Research. 2020;85:102368. DOI 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2019.102368. EDN YKTIAZ.
8. Kamerāde D., Paine A. E. Volunteering and employability: implications for policy and practice. Voluntary Sector Review. 2014;5(2):259–273. DOI 10.1332/204080514X14013593888736.
9. Taniguchi H. Men's and women's volunteering: gender differences in the effects of employment and family characteristics. Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 2006;35(1):83–101. DOI 10.1177/0899764005282481. EDN JOOFUR.
10. Bruno B., Fiorillo D. Why without pay? Intrinsic motivation in the unpaid labour supply. The Journal of Socio-Economics. 2012;41(5):659–669. DOI 10.1016/j.socec.2012.05.020.
11. Downward P., Hallmann K., Rasciute S. Volunteering and leisure activity in the United Kingdom: a longitudinal analysis of males and females. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 2020;49(4):757–775. DOI 10.1177/0899764020901815. EDN DKNSXE.
12. Nezhina T. G., Petukhova K. A., Chechetkina N. I., Mindarova I. S. Motivation of youth participation in the volunteer movement. Public Administration Issues. 2014;(3):49–71. (In Russ.).
13. Belyaeva L. A., Zelenev I. A., Prokhoda V. A. Volunteering in Russia: History and attitudes of the contemporary youth. RUDN Journal of Sociology. 2021;21(4):825–838. (In Russ.). DOI 10.22363/2313-2272-2021-21-4-825-838.
14. Uzyumova N. V., Kiseleva N. I. Volunteer activity as a factor of professional students' development. The Eurasian Scientific Journal. 2023;15(S2):68.
15. Pevnaya M. V., Minchenko D. V., Belov A. A. Motivation in self-regulation of youth volunteer activities. Science. Culture. Society. 2023;29(3):53–68. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2023.29.3.2.
16. Fedorova M. N. Volunteering as a non-market form of the development of human potentiality. The Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2021;(3):146–157. (In Russ.). DOI 10.52180/2073-6487_2021_3_146_157.
17. Trokhina A. V. Volunteering as a special form of employment. Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2012;(12):111–120. (In Russ.).
18. Zabelina O. V., Mirzabalaeva F. I., Vega A. Y. Volunteering as a new form of employment. Russian Journal of Labour Economics. 2019;6(2):775–786. (In Russ.). DOI 10.18334/et.6.2.40692.
Article
Received: 06.06.2025
Accepted: 29.09.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Romashkina, G. F., & Agafonova, D. Y. (2025). Volunteering of Russian youth in the structure of employment. Science. Culture. Society, 31(3), 41-55. https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.3.3
Section
Research of socio-cultural processes in civil society
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