LLUK have released the results of their 2010 survey of the Community Learning and Development (CLD) workforce. The survey shows a 23 per cent decrease in paid local authority CLD staff compared to the 2008 study. The 2008 data covered 26 local authorities representing 71% of Scotland’s population, and although the 2010 data covered only 24 local authorities, these represented just over 83% of the population. So the finding of a sharp decrease does seem persuasive. As in previous surveys, coverage of CLD workers in the third sector was not comprehensive enough to estimate trends reliably.

Local authority community-based adult education workers dropped by 25% and youth workers by 22%. ‘Generic/other’ CLD workers showed a 56% drop and community capacity building showed a rise, although the numbers are small. We would guess that changes in designation of some existing workers are a factor here.

Full-time paid staff made up 36% of the paid public sector workforce, 17% were employed part-time and 47% on a sessional basis. In the third sector, 29% of paid staff were employed full-time and 71% on a part-time or sessional basis.

49% of the total number of people reported as involved in CLD in the third sector were volunteers.

69% of the people in the CLD workforce in Scotland were female; 81% of paid part-time workers in the public sector were female.