The charity sector workforce has grown by almost 45,000 over the course of a year, according to the latest accounts and annual returns filed with the Charity Commission in the year to June 2015.

June’s figures show that the number of people employed in the voluntary sector was 945,691, compared to 900,864, which is an increase of 5 per cent. In June 2013 the number of people employed in the sector was 874,829.

Commission figures are updated quarterly, and are historical figures based on accounts filed in the year. Most sets of accounts will cover the years up to March 2014, December 2014 and March 2015.

Overall income rose by £4.3bn to £68.6bn. Investment gains, which are not considered part of income, dipped slightly from £8.63bn to £8.29bn.

There were 181,427 charities, a slight increase on the previous year when it was 180,880.

The Commission's latest overview of the sector can be seen here.