Jobs
Volunteerism as a career path: How community service can lead to professional opportunities
Volunteerism has long been a noble pursuit, driven by a desire to make a positive impact on society. However, in recent years, it has also emerged as a powerful tool for career exploration and professional development. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, individuals are seeking innovative ways to gain valuable experience, develop transferable skills, and stand out from the crowd. Volunteering offers a unique opportunity to do just that, providing a platform for individuals to explore their interests, build their resumes, and ultimately, advance their careers.
The current landscape of volunteerism
Volunteerism has experienced a significant surge in popularity in recent years, with millions of individuals dedicating their time and skills to various causes around the world. According to a recent study, the global volunteer workforce is estimated to be around 1 billion people, contributing an estimated $400 billion to the global economy annually. This remarkable statistic underscores the immense impact that volunteers have on communities and organisations worldwide.
One of the most notable trends in the world of volunteerism is the rise of virtual volunteering. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online platforms for volunteer engagement, allowing individuals to contribute remotely and break down geographical barriers. This trend has opened up new opportunities for those who were previously unable to volunteer due to physical constraints or distance, and it is expected to continue growing in the future.
Skills-based volunteering: Leveraging expertise for impact
As the demand for more impactful and efficient volunteering experiences grows, organisations are increasingly seeking volunteers with specific expertise. Skills-based volunteering allows individuals to apply their professional skills to solve complex problems and contribute to social causes effectively. This trend aligns with the desire for volunteers to make a tangible difference in the world while also developing their own skills and experience.
One example of skills-based volunteering in action is the work of Media4Change, a platform that connects professionals who want to donate their marketing and communication skills with non-profit organisations in need. Through Media4Change, a social media expert in the United States can help a non-profit in India develop their social media strategy and train their staff remotely, utilising their unique skills to create a meaningful impact of volunteerism.
Volunteerism as a career exploration tool
Volunteering offers a unique opportunity for individuals to explore potential career paths and gain valuable experience in their field of interest. By strategically choosing volunteer opportunities based on their interests, values, and skills, individuals can use volunteerism as a way to test out different career options and acquire skills related to specific types of employment.
One powerful example of volunteerism as a career exploration tool is the work of the Universal Civil Service Program in Italy. Through this program, young people have the opportunity to participate in voluntary work, gaining exposure to diverse situations that challenge them in new ways and help increase self-confidence, improve problem-solving abilities, develop a range of communication skills, and improve their ability to work with other people.
The future of volunteerism: Trends and predictions
As we look towards the future of volunteerism, it’s clear that the landscape will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of society. One trend that is expected to gain momentum is the increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusion in volunteer engagement. Organisations are actively working to ensure that volunteer opportunities are accessible to individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and age groups, reflecting a commitment to representative and equitable volunteer engagement.
Another trend that is likely to shape the future of volunteerism is the rise of corporate volunteering programs. Many companies are recognising the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and are establishing structured volunteering programs for their employees. As more companies encourage and incentivise their workforce to engage in volunteer work, it’s expected that the impact of corporate volunteerism will continue to grow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, volunteerism is a powerful tool for career exploration and professional development, offering individuals the opportunity to gain valuable experience, develop transferable skills, and make a positive impact on society. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, volunteerism provides a unique advantage, helping individuals to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate their commitment to making a difference.
As we look towards the future, it’s clear that volunteerism will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of society. From the rise of virtual volunteering and skills-based volunteering to the increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusion, the landscape of volunteerism is poised for growth and innovation. By embracing these trends and harnessing the power of technology, volunteers and organisations alike can create a more just, equitable, and connected world.
The article has been authored by Bhumi Sr. manager, marcomms Neha Singal.
Jobs
Is 2026 shaping up to be another year of mass layoffs?
Nearly 160,000 jobs have already been cut across 145 companies in the first nine weeks of 2026 as AI adoption, corporate consolidation and organisational “flattening” reshape the global workforce.
MUMBAI: If 2025 was widely labelled the “year of the efficiency drive”, 2026 is beginning to look like something even more consequential. Companies across industries are no longer just trimming costs; they are fundamentally redesigning how organisations operate.
In the first 60 days of 2026, more than 145 global corporations have announced layoffs affecting nearly 160,000 employees. The pace and breadth of these cuts suggest the workforce reset that began in 2025 has not slowed. Instead, it is evolving into a structural shift in the global labour market.
Corporate leaders are also becoming more direct about the reasons behind these moves. While macroeconomic uncertainty once dominated earnings calls, executives are now openly citing AI-led automation, organisational flattening and industry consolidation as the forces driving job reductions.
Unlike the layoffs of 2025, which were largely reactive, the cuts in 2026 appear far more calculated. Businesses are eliminating roles to redirect capital towards artificial intelligence infrastructure, automation technologies and leaner organisational structures.
The media industry offers one of the clearest examples of this transformation. The newsroom at The Washington Postunderwent a dramatic restructuring in February 2026, eliminating more than 300 journalists, roughly one-third of its newsroom. The move included shutting down bureaus in the Middle East, India and Australia while discontinuing dedicated sports coverage. Former editors described the cuts as one of the most difficult moments in the publication’s recent history.
In India, Sony Pictures Networks India also announced layoffs affecting about 10 per cent of its workforce, largely targeting senior roles in distribution and channel marketing. The move reflected a subdued advertising market as well as the company’s shift towards a more integrated digital-first business model.
Industry consolidation is also fuelling job anxiety. The proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to trigger thousands of redundancies as overlapping streaming platforms, marketing teams and newsroom operations are consolidated. Analysts believe departments associated with CNN and CBS Newscould face restructuring once integration begins.
The technology sector remains the epicentre of the restructuring wave. At Block Inc., co-founded by Jack Dorsey, the company announced plans to eliminate 4,000 jobs — nearly 40 per cent of its workforce. Dorsey stated that new AI-powered “intelligence tools” allow smaller teams to accomplish work that previously required far larger organisations.
Meanwhile, Amazon has continued its multi-year efficiency drive. The company recently cut over 100 white-collar roles from its robotics division, affecting teams responsible for building warehouse robots and automation systems used across its fulfilment centres. The teams develop robotic arms and conveyor technologies designed to improve efficiency inside warehouses.
The layoffs were first reported by Business Insider and later confirmed by Reuters. Amazon said it routinely reviews its organisational structure to ensure teams remain aligned with innovation and customer delivery goals. The company did not disclose the exact number of roles affected.
The robotics cuts are part of a broader restructuring that has been underway for months. Since October, when Amazon initiated layoffs affecting roughly 14,000 corporate employees, the company has eliminated nearly 30,000 white-collar roles. These reductions are linked to efficiency gains driven by artificial intelligence as well as efforts to streamline internal processes.
The restructuring has also coincided with strategic shifts in Amazon’s robotics development. Earlier this year, the company paused work on “Blue Jay,” a robotic arm system unveiled at a previous technology event. The multi-arm robot was designed to pick multiple items simultaneously in tight warehouse environments but development of the project was halted in January.
Beyond robotics, Amazon has also trimmed smaller numbers of roles across its devices and services, books, podcasts and public relations teams, reflecting a broader effort to recalibrate spending priorities. Even with these cuts, corporate layoffs represent a small share of Amazon’s global workforce, which stands at around 1.5 million employees, the majority of whom work in fulfilment centres and other hourly roles.
Other technology companies are following similar paths. Meta Platforms has reduced roughly 10 per cent of its Reality Labs workforce even as it commits $40 billion towards expanding AI infrastructure. Platforms such as Pinterest and eBay have also cut hundreds of roles while redirecting investment into artificial intelligence development.
Automation is simultaneously transforming sectors outside technology. Logistics giant United Parcel Service has announced plans to eliminate up to 30,000 jobs in 2026 as it expands automated sorting facilities and deploys new delivery technologies. The shift is expected to generate about $2 billion in annual savings.
The financial sector is undergoing similar adjustments. Morgan Stanley has cut about 2,500 jobs across investment banking and wealth management, even as the firm reported strong revenues.
Three structural forces are driving the current wave of layoffs. The first is the rapid shift from AI experimentation to AI deployment at scale, where automation is replacing routine analytical, administrative and coding tasks.
The second is organisational flattening. Companies such as ASML and Citigroup are removing layers of middle management to create leaner corporate structures. Analysts estimate that director and senior manager roles account for nearly 45 per cent of corporate layoffs this year, highlighting the dismantling of the traditional middle-management layer.
The third trend is what economists describe as “invisible unemployment.” While layoffs dominate headlines, hiring freezes are quietly tightening the job market. Surveys indicate that around 66 per cent of CEOs do not plan to increase headcount in 2026, leaving displaced workers and new graduates facing fewer opportunities.
The ripple effects are already being felt in the broader economy. In India, investors are reassessing the outlook for technology-driven cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where real estate stocks tied to the tech sector have reportedly fallen by as much as 20 per cent amid concerns that slower hiring could weaken demand for premium housing and office space.
In the United States, the unemployment rate remains around 4.3 per cent, but economists caution that the full impact of layoffs may not yet be visible because severance packages keep employees on payroll for months after job cuts are announced.
Taken together, these developments suggest that the wave of layoffs seen over the past two years may not be a temporary correction but part of a deeper transformation in the global workforce. As corporations prioritise AI investment, operational efficiency and leaner organisational structures, the question facing employees and policymakers alike is becoming increasingly urgent: is 2026 truly shaping up to be another year defined by layoffs?
