Young people were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic last year with many working in the industry sectors most affected by lockdowns such as hospitality and retail new research shows.
Generation Z: life during COVID-19 uses data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) to discover how 20-year-olds in 2020 have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, exploring their engagement with study and work alongside their living arrangements, finances, and mental health. The research also compares their situation during the pandemic and how it changed from the previous year (in 2019) as well as with 20-year-olds from an earlier LSAY cohort in 2014.
Close to 1 in 10 young people interviewed were employed but working zero hours with the highest representation in the occupations of sales assistants, sports coaches, bar attendants and baristas. Nearly a third were working fewer hours than before the pandemic, and there was a significantly higher percentage of 20-year-olds preferring to work more hours in 2020 when compared with 20-year-olds in 2014 (42% in 2020, up from 32% in 2014).
The pandemic also affected their engagement with education with 5% putting their studies on hold. There was also a dramatic decrease in the number of students who spent some time on campus (37% in 2020 compared with 97% in 2019).
Other areas of their lives were changed too. The percentage of 20-year-olds likely to have a serious mental health illness more than tripled between 2014 and 2020. Young people were less satisfied with life overall dropping 5 percentage points in just one year to 73%. Living arrangements were also impacted with 28% of 20-year-olds previously living independently moving back home.
Quotes attributable to Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER
The LSAY data is providing us with important insights into the effect of the pandemic on young people. We know from previous research that any significant disruption to a young person’s working life can have a scarring effect when it comes to future prospects and earning potential.
Job losses and financial hardship hit casual workers hardest and the longer they are out of meaningful work, the more likely their happiness and mental health will suffer.
Background
LSAY follows young Australians from their mid-teens to their mid-twenties as they move from school into further study and training, work, and into adulthood.
The latest data from the group of participants who commenced the LSAY program in 2015 has been released today.
LSAY data is used to inform youth initiatives and policies and is available to researchers, policy makers and those with an interest in youth issues.
LSAY shows us how young Australians are finding their way through the pandemic and will help to develop youth policies and initiatives to ensure they have the best supports in place.
To find out more visit the LSAY website.
Enquiries: Deanne Loan M: 0413 523 691 E: deanneloan@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the main provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
LSAY is managed by NCVER and conducted by Wallis Social Research on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education Skills and Employment.