Job market information
Finding out about playwork
The playwork industry is part of the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, represented by SkillsActive Sector Skills Council. This sector is based on leisure and recreation and includes: sport and recreation; health and fitness; the outdoors; and the caravan industry. The UK active leisure, learning and well‐being sector currently employs 663,300 people, representing just over 2% of the UK workforce, and an estimated 1.9 million volunteers in England (equating to 54,000 full‐time equivalents). There are an estimated 39,800 workplaces, of which 74% employ 10 or less people. Much of the workforce work in a part‐time capacity (47%) and seasonal employment is important for outdoors, caravans and playwork, which attract students and other temporary workers.
Playwork facilitates children’s play outside the educational curriculum for 4‐16 year‐olds. Playwork takes place where adults support children’s play in settings that include:
- After‐school clubs
- Holiday playschemes
- Adventure playgrounds
- Parks
- Playbuses
- Breakfast clubs
Different playwork settings are run in different ways, but all aim to give children and young people choices about how they spend their leisure time. Many of these settings will be subject to care standards and regulations. The range of playwork settings is increasing, for example there are an increasing number of out of school clubs.
Key facts:
- There are 146,700 people working in playwork, of which many are employed on a part‐time basis.
- There are also a significant number of volunteers working in the industry.
- 43% of the workforce is employed full‐time, 53% part‐time and 4% self‐employed.
- The industry has an older age profile compared to other industries in the sector, around 28% are aged 35‐44 and 37% are 45‐59.
Jobs in the industry include: playworker, manager, development worker, trainer, specialist playworker, after‐school club manager, breakfast club assistant, play development officer.
Entry and progression
Traditional entry qualifications (such as first aid, health and safety, introductory coaching awards, the sports leadership awards and life guarding qualifications) are valued by employers, together with a solid grounding in academic studies including English and Maths at GCSE, and potentially physical education (PE) at either GCSE or A level. Work experience in the sector can also be an advantage. Entry to certain occupations in the sector will be restricted by insurance and legal regulation.
The introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage affects all playwork settings taking children under eight years of age. The new regulations state that in registered settings other than childminding settings, all supervisors and managers must hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification and half of all other staff must hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification (as defined by the Children's Workforce Development Council).
For those wishing to be a Play development officer within a local authority, a degree or substantial experience of working in the play industry is required. For those wishing to change career and enter the industry, there are a range of opportunities as recruiters do not always insist on qualifications. Entry to roles at an older age is not uncommon.
There is a range of educational opportunities, industry endorsed courses (at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level), work‐based learning, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and training schemes.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
146,700 |
|---|
| Gender: |
13% male |
87% female |
|---|
| Age: |
8% of the workforce is aged 16-24 years. |
|---|
| 20% aged 25-34 years |
| 28% aged 35-44 years |
| 39% aged 45-54 years |
| 7% aged 60 years and over |
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (Annual average), 2008.]
[N.B. The following data are for the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector as a whole.] |
| Ethnicity: |
94% of the workforce is white. |
|---|
| 2% Black or Black British |
| 2% Asian or Asian British |
| 1% Chinese or other ethnic background |
| 1% mixed |
Employment trends and future prospects
Long term forecasts undertaken in 2004 indicate that employment across the sector will grow by around 21% over the period to 2014. However, these forecasts were made both before the announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and before the recent economic downturn.
Skill requirements and shortages
Jobs and roles in each industry within playwork require varying skills sets, technical skills and qualifications, including:
- Knowledge of playwork principles/values
- Job specific/technical skills such as stautory requirements (e.g. health and safety; child protection; and first aid) and playwork and related qualifications.
- Organisational skills/preparing and planning work
- Problem solving and initiative
- Communication
- Generic skills (e.g. literacy, numeracy and IT user skills)
- Team‐working
- Management and leadership (dependent on level)
Cross sector skills include: Health and Safety; Child Protection; and First Aid.
Occupational trends
| Managers and Senior Officials |
12% |
|---|
| Professionals |
12% |
|---|
| Associate Professional and Technical |
23% |
|---|
| Administrative and Secretarial |
9% |
|---|
| Skilled Trades |
7% |
|---|
| Personal Service |
21% |
|---|
| Sales and Customer Service |
2% |
|---|
| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives |
13% |
|---|
| Elementary roles |
1% |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (Annual average), 2008.]
The following will affect new and emerging jobs:
- Consumer trends – the demands of consumers and changes to lifestyles and tastes have a particular impact on all aspects of the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector. Customer Relationship Management may be increasingly important as the effects of the economic downturn are realised.
- Economic impact – the performance of the UK economy impacts on people’s spare time and disposable income, which may result in a shift in demand for recreational activities and domestic tourism.
- Government drivers – changes to government polity and/or legislation can affect the sector. For example, the government’s drive to increase participation in physical activity and utilise it as a means to address health issues around obesity will affect the demand for the sector and the skills/knowledge requirements of those dealing with people with health issues. A growth area is roles dealing with special populations and children’s fitness. The industry is also diversifying into wellbeing including advice on nutritional products and weight management programmes.
- Technological advancement – the greatest impact of technological change at present relates to advancements in booking systems, electronic communications and high‐tech sporting/fitness equipment. The use of these tools is likely to impact on a range of occupations, although there may also be a requirement for those occupying clerical/administrative roles to obtain higher level skills.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are 44,300 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 10,100 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; basic computer and IT skills; initiative; planning and preparing work; management; and team‐working.
East of England – There are 61,400 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 13,800 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; initiative; and management.
London – There are 70,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 18,100 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: initiative; planning and preparing work; problem solving; management; knowledge of playwork principles; and basic computer and IT skills.
North East – There are 24,500 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 6,200 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; initiative; planning and preparing work; team‐working; management; and communication.
North West – There are 65,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 17,000 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; planning and preparing work; problem solving; basic computer and IT skills; team‐working; communication; management; and initiative.
South East – There are 96,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 21,300 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; initiative; planning and preparing work; and problem solving.
South West – There are 53,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 12,800 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; initiative; basic computer and IT skills; and planning and preparing work.
West Midlands – There are 48,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 13,900 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: initiative; knowledge of playwork values and principles; planning and preparing work; team‐working; and management.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 51,900 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 13,500 are employed in playwork. Industry skills gaps in the region include: knowledge of playwork values and principles; initiative; planning and preparing work; team‐working; management; communications; and problem solving.
Northern Ireland – There are 10,738 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 900 are employed in playwork. Scotland – There are 58,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 12,100 are employed in playwork.
Wales – There are 29,500 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 7,200 are employed in playwork.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry (GB), 2007, Northern Ireland, 2005 and Labour Force Survey (Annual average), 2008.]
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry vary so the following only provides an indication of the average annual salaries of the current workforce:
- Playworkers – can earn between £12,000 and £20,000, whilst senior staff can earn around £25,000. Playworkers who are part‐time, or work on a short‐term basis, earn a portion of full‐time rates or could be paid an hourly rate.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using SkillsActive AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
