Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board (EMOWPDB), in partnership with Pillar Nonprofit Network, published new nonprofit workforce data, shedding light on factors threatening long-term stability. According to the 2026 EmployerOne Survey (EOS), nonprofits across the London Economic Region continued to hire, train, and invest in local talent in 2025, even as funding pressures and a shifting labour market reshaped how the sector builds its workforce. The annual survey, which captures hiring, retention, and workforce trends among employers in London, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, and St. Thomas, gathered responses from 85 nonprofit organizations in early 2026.

Key Findings:

• Hiring activity slowed, and seasonal roles are filling the gap:
  • 73% of nonprofit organizations hired new staff in 2025, down from 89% the previous year.
  • 98% of organizations that hired brought on staff from within the London Economic Region, and more than three-quarters hired all their employees locally.
  • Seasonal positions accounted for 24% of all hires in EOS 2026, up sharply from 10% the previous year, and now represent the single largest category of new hires – ahead of permanent full-time and permanent part-time roles (21% each).
• Retention is improving, but turnover and wages remain concerns:
  • 62% of nonprofits experienced staff separations in the past year, down 12 percentage points from the previous survey.
  • Resignations tied to wages accounted for a smaller share of departures than before: quits made up 48% of separations in EOS 2026, down from 64% in EOS 2025. The top reasons employees left were finding other employment (50%) and unsatisfactory wages and benefits (50%).
  • Youth and women continue to be disproportionately affected by retention challenges in the region.

For further insights or to download the report, click here.