Research on impact of COVID-19 on young people as lockdown eases

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Our latest LockdownLowdown research into the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 on Scotland’s young people suggests that over two-thirds (67%) feel positive about their current employment situation as lockdown eases, but only two-fifths of Scottish students are confident about securing future employment.  

Commissioned by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Scottish Youth Parliament, YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot, the study of over 2,500 young people serves as a follow-up to previous surveys commissioned that explored young people’s concerns in response to the pandemic.

The latest LockdownLowdown report examined the lasting impact of coronavirus and comes as many young people return to school, education and work in light of easing lockdown restrictions. 

Key findings from the LockdownLowdown show that: 

  • Job satisfaction among young people has risen since last year, with 67% of young people feeling good about their current job situation – a 12% increase from the previous Lockdown Lowdown report in the winter. 

  • Positive sentiment diminished however when young people were asked about their confidence in finding a job in the future, with 2 in 5 (37%) of those currently in higher education concerned about securing graduate employment.  

  • Employment and finances, in general, were found to be a leading worry among young people, with more than a third (36%) admitting that their hours had been cut, while a fifth (22%) were placed on furlough and 18% lost their job entirely. This comes at a time when over a third (36%) don’t know where to access information on financial support. 

  • The Lockdown Lowdown survey identified mental health as a primary concern among young people, with over a third (35%) worried about their mental wellbeing and two fifths (40%) not confident about accessing information on mental health and wellbeing. 

  • Following the reopening of schools and learning environments, over three quarters (76%) of young people have returned to in-person education – with 85% happy to be back. However, nearly half of respondents (44%) felt unprepared in the run-up to this year’s assessments and only 2 in 5 (38%) were confident that the grades determined by their teachers would be delivered fairly. 

Find out more information and access the full survey report here.   

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Reid Aiton