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.
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.]
