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Abstract: The article presents a theoretical analysis of scientific works of home and foreign scholars on the issue of social competence. It defines the essence of this concept, its structural elements and methods of development. The undertaken theoretical analysis of the problems of social competence in modern science shows that the origins of modern theories of social competence can be found in foreign psychology and pedagogy of early 20th century. The process of development of social competence is presented by many authors not as a linear, progressive acquisition of the rules of social behavior one after another, but as a connection, interpenetration and integration of the old and the new, the dying and the ones being born in the changed circumstances. The structure of social competence is presented as a unity of social knowledge, abilities and skills used in the main spheres of human activity, and includes cognitive, personal, active, moral and value oriented components. The development of social competence requires careful observation of age peculiarities of its carriers. The most favorable period for the development of social competence is adolescence. Active participation in volunteer activities is the necessary condition for the development of social competence. Volunteering is a form of social service, carried out of one’s own free will and aimed at selfless provision of socially significant services. The volunteer movement received its modern level of development in connection with the growing number of social problems, that cannot be solved in today's economy without volunteers.