Most people want to work for an NGO or international organisation
If you are drawn to NGOs and international organisations, you are in good company, by a significant margin, it is the most sought-after employer type in the sector. And it is not just an aspiration. Most job seekers are not browsing broadly; they have a specific dream employer in mind. If you do too, you are already ahead in knowing what you want.
The job market is competitive, but not impossible
Over half of respondents have applied to 1–5 roles in the last six months, and 55% of those who applied received at least one interview. That is an encouraging sign. The sector is competitive, but skilled, focused candidates do get through the door.
What is harder is the waiting. Only 16% of candidates said they always received feedback after an interview. The majority got a response sometimes, rarely, or never. If you are in the middle of a job search and feeling left in the dark, you are not alone, and it is not a reflection of your application.
The overall recruitment process was rated 3.2 out of 5 on average. There is clearly room for organisations to do better, but professionals continue to engage, because the work matters to them.
Job insecurity is real, and it is taking a toll
Among those who had recently lost a job, contract endings and funding cuts were the most common causes, structural pressures that are largely outside any individual's control. The effects go well beyond a gap in the CV. Job uncertainty is weighing heavily on people's wellbeing, with financial stability the dominant concern. And most people do not feel their organisations are doing enough to acknowledge that.
If people leave, it will be for structural reasons, not lack of commitment
The vast majority of people plan to stay in the impact sector over the next two years. But the concerns that could push people out are real, job insecurity, limited career progression, and short-term contracts top the list. For those who might move on, the private sector and consulting are the most likely destinations. These are not people abandoning their values; they are looking for stability.
The people in this sector are experienced and committed
The talent pool runs deep. Experience is spread across career stages, from people just starting out to those with decades behind them. Programme and project management is the most common background, but operations, policy, finance, monitoring and evaluation, and communications are all well represented. Whatever your specialism, there is a community of professionals working alongside you.
So, what does this mean for your job search?
The people you are competing with are motivated and often highly targeted. Knowing your dream employer and tailoring your application matters more than applying broadly.
The recruitment process has room to improve, but most active applicants do land an interview. Keep going.
And if you are feeling the pressure of job uncertainty, that is not a personal failing. It is a sector-wide challenge, and this survey shows you are far from alone.
70% would still recommend the impact sector as a career path
That says something. Despite the challenges, this sector draws people who believe the work is worth it, and most of them are staying.
Based on the Impactpool Pulse 2026 Talent Survey, conducted February 2026. Total respondents: 2,786.