Nonprofit Hiring Accelerates in May With 63,000 New Jobs

Nonprofits added an estimated 63,000 workers in May, according to a new analysis from the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies.

The report highlighted the ongoing national Covid vaccination push, reopenings of hard-hit nonprofits such as arts groups, and targeted support for nonprofits in recent congressional recovery packages as a basis for optimism for those tracking nonprofit employment.

However, nonprofits still employed an estimated 732,870 fewer workers in May than they did in February 2020, leaving nonprofit employment 6 percent lower than it was before the pandemic hit.

“The slowing of vaccinations well below the ‘herd immunity’ target level and the stubborn emergence of new, more troublesome variants, make clear that continued vigilance will still be needed,” the report states.

Last month’s job growth was driven in large part by hiring at educational nonprofits, which added about 28,870 workers in May. Nonprofits in the arts, entertainment, and recreation added 11,130 jobs. Social-assistance nonprofits added 9,577 jobs.

Nonprofit health-care groups added 9,770 jobs, and religious and grant-making organizations added 1,020 jobs in May.

Compared with February 2020, arts, entertainment, and recreation nonprofits continue to be the hardest hit, with a work force 24 percent smaller — 85,340 fewer jobs — than before the pandemic. Educational services nonprofits remain 11.2 percent smaller, with 223,886 fewer jobs than before the pandemic.

Since July 2020, nonprofits have added an average of 46,300 jobs a month, with some big fluctuations. At current rates, the report’s authors estimate it will take 16 months for the nonprofit labor force to eclipse its prepandemic size.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies has provided estimates of nonprofit employment levels since June 2020. Its estimates are based on federal unemployment figures and the proportion of nonprofit employers in different industries.