( CNN ) -- As both President Obama and Mitt Romney make the case for creating jobs , they are ignoring one of the fastest-growing job creators in our economy : the nonprofit sector . The only mention of nonprofits on the campaign trail or in the debates has been whether to limit tax deductions for charitable donations . For the sake of our economy , the health and continuous growth of this sector should be a priority for the next president . The size and scope of the nonprofit sector may come as a surprise . There are almost 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the country , including well-known brands like the Girl Scouts , Habitat for Humanity , United Way and the YMCA , as well as many smaller and more community-based service organizations , schools , congregations , sports leagues and hospitals . Taken all together , the sector generates almost $ 1.5 trillion in spending per year and employs about one in 10 American workers , or 13.5 million people . It is the third largest labor force behind retail trade and manufacturing . If your son or daughter is considering a career in nonprofits , do n't be alarmed . While nonprofits are known for employing social workers , they also need managers , human resource professionals , educators , artists , computer programmers , marketers , accountants , athletes , carpenters , researchers , cooks and many other skilled workers . And as one of the fastest-growing job sectors over the past decade , nonprofits offer plenty of good jobs . According to a study by Lester Salamon of Johns Hopkins University , `` the U.S. nonprofit sector posted a remarkable 10 year record of job growth despite two recessions , achieving an annual growth rate of 2.1 % from 2000 to 2010 . '' In comparison , for-profit jobs declined by 0.6 % per year during the same period . The study continues , `` Even during the recession from 2007 to 2009 , nonprofit jobs increased by an average of 1.9 % per year . At the same time , businesses averaged jobs losses of 3.7 % per year . '' There are several reasons that account for the growth . In a time of economic challenges , nonprofits have grown to meet the greater needs in our communities . Many services previously provided by the government are now contracted to nonprofits . Changing demographics , especially the aging of America , has increased demand for services . The sector has also experienced a wave of entrepreneurship and innovations , along with adoptions of best practices from businesses , that have increased its effectiveness and size . One might question whether jobs created in the nonprofit sector are really private-sector jobs , since many of the jobs are subsidized by the government through tax-deductible donations and direct grant support . But the truth is that many private-sector businesses receive tax credits , tax deductions , government grants and government contracts . No one dismisses as private-sector jobs those at Lockheed Martin , which received $ 16 billion in government contracts from 2009 to 2011 . Or General Electric , which paid no federal taxes last year . When there are proposals to cut defense or other federal programs that fund businesses , Congress often protects them because those cuts kill private-sector jobs . Should n't Congress likewise protect cuts in federal funds that eliminate middle-class jobs that provide health , education , opportunity , safety and culture for our communities ? Here are some things the next president can do to support a growing nonprofit sector : . 1 . Maintain the charitable tax deduction and the estate tax . Restricting the flow of private resources into the nonprofit sector will affect its opportunity to create and sustain jobs and impact . Charitable giving overall is essential to our communities , democracy and economy . But there is still a need to explore how to drive more giving toward greater problems like poverty rather than university endowments . 2 . Provide student loan forgiveness and incentives for veterans . Most nonprofits are not able to invest in training and development , so young employees bear those costs . Allowing student loan forgiveness for those who devote their lives to service and allowing a new GI Bill to invest in returning veterans who want to serve their communities at home would make a great difference . 3 . Expand national service . With 87,000 people serving in AmeriCorps nationally , this public-private partnership has become a critical human capital source for the nonprofit sector . Both presidential candidates have been champions of service , and whoever wins should implement the bipartisan Serve America Act to grow AmeriCorps to 250,000 people . 4 . Invest in social entrepreneurship . Expand the federal social innovation fund and new sources of financing , such as social impact bonds , so that investments can go into helping organizations and programs that show evidence of success . 5 . Open federal investments in small businesses and jobs to nonprofits . Nonprofits are not able to access the same incentives as businesses to grow and train their work forces . If nonprofits could receive tax credits , they could sell in a secondary market to businesses to grow more jobs . In addition , the Small Business Administration and other federal programs that support jobs could open opportunities to nonprofits . Investing in the nonprofit work force is a double win because it would create good jobs and improve our quality of life through mission-driven goals . The nonprofit sector should be a central part of any discussions about our economic recovery strategy . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Schmitz .
Paul Schmitz : President Obama and Mitt Romney are ignoring the nonprofit sector . Schmitz : The sector is one of the fastest growing over the past decade . He says the next president can do a number of things to support the industry . Schmitz : Investing in the nonprofit work force is a win for job creation and economy .