United Kingdom
Non-participation
Key points
- Ten million adults who are neither in paid work nor in full-time education do not participate in any social, political, cultural or community organisations. This is more than half of all people not in paid work or full-time education.
- Although women outnumber men in terms of non-participation, there is little proportional difference since there are many more women than men who are neither in paid work nor education.
- Levels of non-participation are similar across the income distribution.
Graph 1: Over time
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Graph 2: By population group
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Why this indicator was originally chosen
Social networks are a means of finding paid employment and other forms of occupation. A lack of contacts has been shown to prolong unemployment. The long term unemployed often have low levels of social engagement beyond their immediate families. Paugam S, 1995, 'The spiral of precariousness' in G Room, Beyond the threshold, Macmillan. Policies aimed at reducing poverty and social exclusion through paid work depend partly on fostering networks between the employed and unemployed.
For people for whom paid work is difficult to find, or inappropriate as in the case of pensioners, other means of participation can help to fulfil the basic human needs for a sense of competence, worth and socialisation. These range from political parties, trade unions and tenants groups to social groups and sports clubs. People's local communities can provide numerous opportunities both for help and for the chance to help. Humm J, 1997, Progress report of the community sector observatory, CDF.
Definitions and data sources
The first graph shows the number of people aged 16 or over who are not in work and who report themselves as not active in any of a range of social, political, cultural or community organisations.
The organisations are: trade unions, professional associations, environmental groups, parents'/school associations, pensioner groups, community groups, tenant/resident groups, women's groups, religious groups, sports clubs, social groups and political parties.
The second graph shows, for the latest year, how the proportions who are not active in any of the organisations vary by level of household income.
The organisations are: trade unions, professional associations, environmental groups, parents'/school associations, pensioner groups, community groups, tenant/resident groups, women's groups, religious groups, sports clubs, social groups and political parties.
The data source for both graphs is the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). The data relates to the United Kingdom. The question is only asked every other year. In the second graph, income is household income, equivalised (adjusted) to account for differences in household size and composition.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: medium. BHPS is a smaller survey than the other national surveys.
External links
- See ONS Social Trends, Chapter 13 on general attitudes towards participation in political/voluntary activities.
- See the Robert Puttnam's research.
Relevant 2007 Public Service Agreements
Overall aim: Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities
Lead department
Department for Communities and Local Government.
Official national targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
Percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area.
Percentage of people who have meaningful interactions with people from different backgrounds.
Percentage of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality.
Percentage of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood.
Thriving third sector.
Percentage of people who participate in culture or in sport.
Previous 2004 targets
Increase voluntary and community engagement, especially amongst those at risk of social exclusion.
Reduce race inequalities and build community cohesion.
Tackle social exclusion and deliver neighbourhood renewal, working with department to help them meet their PSA floor Official national targets, in particular narrowing the gap in health, education, crime, worklessness, housing and liveability outcomes between the most deprived areas and the rest of England, with measurable improvement by 2010.
The numbers
Graph 1
| Not in work/education who do not participate (millions) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Men | Women |
| 1991/92 | 4.1 | 6.9 |
| 1993/94 | 3.9 | 6.2 |
| 1995/96 | 3.8 | 5.9 |
| 1997/98 | 3.7 | 5.9 |
| 1999/00 | 3.6 | 5.8 |
| 2001/2 | 3.9 | 6.0 |
| 2003/04 | 3.6 | 5.9 |
| 2005/06 | 3.1 | 5.8 |
| 2007/08 | 3.7 | 6.0 |
Graph 2
| Poorest fifth | 63% |
|---|---|
| 2nd | 59% |
| Middle fifth | 60% |
| 4th | 56% |
| Richest fifth | 51% |