Evidence library

Coronavirus / COVID-19

Findings based on the analysis of an online YouGov survey that ran from 6-11 May 2020. The total sample size was 6,005 adults, aged 18-65.

Key findings:

• Younger and older workers have experienced the brunt of the hit to jobs and pay
• 35% of non-full-time student 18-24-year-old employees are earning less than they did prior to the outbreak, as are 30% of those in their early 60s, compared to 23% of 25-49-year-olds.
• One-third of 18-24-year-old employees (excluding students) have lost jobs or been furloughed, compared to one-in-six 'prime age' adults. The large proportion of 18-24-year-olds on furlough and who have lost their main job is particularly worrying because these people are at the beginning of career, and have been shown to be more susceptible to long-term employment and pay scarring.
• employees in atypical work (eg temporary work or zero hours) are also more likely to have been furloughed, or lost jobs or hours. Young people are more likely than other age groups to work in atypical jobs. Further, much of this atypical work is concentrated in ‘shutdown sectors’ directly affected by lockdown measures, such as hospitality and non-food retail.

For related news coverage see BBC article - Coronavirus: Young people 'most likely to lose work' in lockdown: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52717942