Subsequent analysis by Brierley and John Baxter-Brown, of Churches Together in England, suggests this figure is flawed in that it includes a large number of curates and ministers under the banner of "youth worker".
Baxter-Brown's own analysis of the number of workers in the Christian youth work community seems to have come to a more realistic figure of 3,350 full-time posts and 3,650 part-time workers or student placements, equating to a full-time equivalent figure of about 5,500 - although he is quick to caution that there is still an element of guesswork in this analysis.
The National Youth Agency's audit figures for 2003-04 suggest there are 8,410 full-time equivalent local authority youth service staff, comprising 5,370 mainly full-time professionally qualified staff (for a full-time equivalent figure of 4,150), plus 17,700 mainly part-time youth support posts, for a full-time equivalent figure of 4,260.
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