Youth employment up but some of it is insecure

Young people have returned to work rapidly, but some have done so to insecure work, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank.

It found that by October 2021, three in four (76%) young people who were in work before the pandemic but workless during the winter lockdown had returned to work. As a result, the unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds in the three months to November fell to 9.8%, below its pre-pandemic 10.5%.

However, despite this rapid return it found that young “returners” are more likely than those who stayed in work throughout the pandemic to be on a temporary or zero hours contract, doing agency work or working variable hours.

It also found that the number of 18-24 year olds who are economically inactive and not in full-time study (NEETs) has risen, especially among young men, where it has increased by 47,000 compared to spring 2021.

Louise Murphy, economist at the foundation, said: “Young people were hit hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic, but have bounced back with a swift return to work, thanks in large part to the success of the furlough scheme. But policymakers and employers must not become complacent.”

https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/press-releases/young-people-have-returned-to-work-rapidly-but-many-have-returned-to-insecure-jobs-and-50000-young-men-have-dropped-out-altogether