The Center for Civil Society Studies at John Hopkins University have recently released a study entitled, “Holding the Fort: Nonprofit Employment during a Decade of Turmoil.” There are three authors of the book, Lester M. Salamon, Stephanie L. Geller, and S. Wojciech Sokolowski.  The authors have stated that nonprofit organizations have been basically holding down the fort for the entire United States economy because they have been helping to create jobs and employment, while other sectors have been declining in the number of jobs available.

Each of the three authors has claimed that this sector, nonprofit employment, has helped shield against job loss, even while the economy was at its worst, in 2007 through 2009. During that period of time, the United States was suffering from a recession which crippled the environment and left many individuals without employment. It was definitely a troubled time and even in 2012, the economy is still not back to where it needs to be. The authors have also made an emphasis on the need for policymakers to realize how much potential the nonprofit employment sector truly has and to keep it in mind, especially during a period of time when spending cuts are being made.

The study that was made includes a ton of accurate data and statistics, along with highlights of the nonprofit sector and how it is has been beneficial for the United States economy, in different areas of the country and in the entire United States as one. During 2010, this particular sector employed more than 10 million paid employees. The sector is right behind retail trade as well as manufacturing and is the third largest private employer

The report provides statistical information and data from 2000 all the way through to 2010 and comes from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which is a program that collects data and is led by the government and receives much assistance from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The study also shows that there are some threats and frightening trends that are appearing against the nonprofits. The study shows that for-profit growth has actually surpassed the nonprofit growth for quite a few sectors, including education, nursing home care, and social assistance as well. This does show that there are a few things to worry about for the nonprofit employment.  However, there was one particular field that was much more successful for nonprofits than for-profit and that field was arts and recreation.

The authors have advised that everyone take notice to the unequal playing field that the nonprofits constantly have to compete against. They hope the sector will be preserved, even in its time of need, as it has been very beneficial for the economy.