Catherwood LibraryILR School

As more and more professional workers lose their jobs, the ranks of non-profit volunteers have swelled. Many laid-off workers turn to volunteer work as something to do, and a way to keep relevant skills updated. In Maryland, Business Volunteers Unlimited, which normally organizes volunteer work for company employees, has now begun to match up laid-off workers with useful market skills with non-profits who need their help. It is beginning to set up a program called COPE which sets up unemployed professionals as short term volunteer project managers as they look for new jobs. Volunteerism also helps laid off workers to make new connections, and the social networking often aids them in finding new positions.