YOUTH EMPLOYMENT DISRUPTED BY LOCKDOWN

Britain’s poorest were hardest hit, especially the youngest age group

EMPLOYMENT rates among Britain’s most deprived young people reached an eight-year low in 2020, but even with a recovery last year, the group are still less likely to be in jobs. Analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found young people from workless households were consistently less likely to be employed and more likely to be economically inactive than any other group.

In 2020, employment rates for young people from workless households fell by eight percentage points from a peak of 52% in 2019 to a low of 44%, before recovering to 52% last year.

However, in 2021, 77% of 16 to 24-years-olds who have family who work in intermediate occupations (for example shopkeepers, paramedics, small business owners and police officers) were in work, as were 74% of those whose parents were professionals.

In this analysis, class is defined as professional, intermediate, working class, based on what the highest earning parent or adult family member was doing when the person was 14, or workless households (people who at the age of 14 had parents or caregivers not in work).

Sir Peter Lampl, Founder and Chairman of the Sutton Trust said “Young people – especially those from poorer backgrounds – have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Over the past two years, those from disadvantaged homes have faced serious obstacles across all stages of education and into the workplace. Our most recent research has predicted a large decline in social mobility as a result of learning loss

Speaking on the cause of such inequality, Head of Policy at youth charity Impetus, Ben Gadsby said “Our research shows that qualifications make the biggest difference for young people’s job prospects. But children who grow up in poverty are only about half as likely to get crucial GCSE qualifications. And these exam results are worse where poverty is deeper or more long-lasting.

“But young people who grow up in poverty are still less likely to get jobs than their classmates even if they do get the grades. There are lots of factors behind this – including things like confidence, social capital, networks – but these are also influenced by poverty in the same way that qualifications are.”

The ONS said young people are more likely to not be working, and are less resilient to shocks in the labour market than older people. They suffered disproportionately during the 2008 to 2009 global financial downturn, with unemployment rates rising fast and reaching the highest levels on record at the end of 2011.

They were also among the most affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with unemployment and economic inactivity rates increasing by more in comparison with those aged 25 years and over.

Three-quarters (72%) of 16 to 24 year olds were working in 2021, compared to 82% of 25 to 34 year olds and 84% of 34 to 49 year olds. The gap has widened since 2014, growing wider still during the pandemic.

Full-time students are excluded from this analysis, as those who do not work alongside their studies are classified as economically inactive as, like others in this group, they're not available or looking for work.

The survey the analysis was based on is conducted in between July and September, which coincided with the relaxation of COVID restrictions in 2020, so may not entirely reflect the impact of the harshest lockdowns. The timing may also not account for those transitioning between education