Dear Editor,

THE Trades Union Congress, which represents six million workers in the UK, has today published research which highlights the severe impact of Covid-19 on young workers.

TUC analysis shows that 59,000 workers aged 16 to 24 lost their jobs in July to September, compared to 56,000 across all of 2019. The number of 16-24 year-olds in work is lower than at any point during the 2008 financial crisis. 

Redundancies across all age groups hit an all time high of 314,000 in Jul-Sep 2020. Unemployment increased more this quarter than any other time on record. And it has become clear that young workers are being hit hardest.

This is especially worrying as youth unemployment has long-term ‘scarring’ impacts. Spells of unemployment as a young worker lead to lower pay and more unemployment decades later. 

Consequently, the TUC calls for the government to invest in creating good new jobs to prevent a generation from being scarred by mass unemployment. 

Full report

https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/jobs-and-recession-monitor-young-workers