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| Coronavirus: 'We feel so lost' - Young face job despair | Coronavirus: 'We feel so lost' - Young face job despair |
| (1 day later) | |
| Jared Thomas says he is trying to inject some excitement into his life by getting into the kitchen and cooking something nice. | Jared Thomas says he is trying to inject some excitement into his life by getting into the kitchen and cooking something nice. |
| The 26-year-old is hungry for work, but the coronavirus outbreak means financially stretched customers have little appetite for his tree surgery services at the moment. | The 26-year-old is hungry for work, but the coronavirus outbreak means financially stretched customers have little appetite for his tree surgery services at the moment. |
| "Everybody's life has been turned upside down," he says. | "Everybody's life has been turned upside down," he says. |
| "I really don't know when work will pick up. I'd be surprised if it does for the next month or two." | "I really don't know when work will pick up. I'd be surprised if it does for the next month or two." |
| Like so many other young employees, it may feel that he has been forgotten in this economic crisis. | Like so many other young employees, it may feel that he has been forgotten in this economic crisis. |
| Jared, from south Wales, says he started this work too recently to be eligible for the government's financial support for the self-employed. Instead, he has claimed the universal credit benefit for the first time, so he can pay the rent. | Jared, from south Wales, says he started this work too recently to be eligible for the government's financial support for the self-employed. Instead, he has claimed the universal credit benefit for the first time, so he can pay the rent. |
| In many ways, he is still one of the lucky ones. If work picks up, he still has a job. | In many ways, he is still one of the lucky ones. If work picks up, he still has a job. |
| That is not the case for Jemma, a 16-year-old from Fleet, who was let go from a salon during her hairdressing apprenticeship. | That is not the case for Jemma, a 16-year-old from Fleet, who was let go from a salon during her hairdressing apprenticeship. |
| No job means no qualification which, she says, has left her "heartbroken". | No job means no qualification which, she says, has left her "heartbroken". |
| She is too young to drive, and the chances of finding another job nearby are looking increasingly slim. | She is too young to drive, and the chances of finding another job nearby are looking increasingly slim. |
| "They will be so focused on building up a salon, they will have no time to take new people on," she told the BBC's Newsbeat. | "They will be so focused on building up a salon, they will have no time to take new people on," she told the BBC's Newsbeat. |
| "I don't know what to do anymore." | "I don't know what to do anymore." |
| Young people like her may feel "so lost" even after the virus fades, she worries about their mental health. | Young people like her may feel "so lost" even after the virus fades, she worries about their mental health. |
| Lessons from the past | Lessons from the past |
| History shows that school leavers like her are usually hardest hit following a recession in terms of financial health too. | History shows that school leavers like her are usually hardest hit following a recession in terms of financial health too. |
| Many suffer longer spells of unemployment, and slower pay rises, than people with degrees. | Many suffer longer spells of unemployment, and slower pay rises, than people with degrees. |
| For example, unemployment among students with GCSE-level qualifications peaked at 32.3% in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, official figures show. | For example, unemployment among students with GCSE-level qualifications peaked at 32.3% in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, official figures show. |
| This compares with 13.4% for those with a masters degree. | This compares with 13.4% for those with a masters degree. |
| There could be more than one million young workers who are without a job, if the overall UK level of unemployment goes up from the current 4% of workers to 10%, according to the Resolution Foundation think-tank. | There could be more than one million young workers who are without a job, if the overall UK level of unemployment goes up from the current 4% of workers to 10%, according to the Resolution Foundation think-tank. |
| For lower-skilled young adults, it believes the chances of getting a job will be reduced by a third. For recent graduates, it will be down by 13%. | For lower-skilled young adults, it believes the chances of getting a job will be reduced by a third. For recent graduates, it will be down by 13%. |
| Kathleen Henehan, a research analyst at the Resolution Foundation, says many graduates "traded down" into jobs in retail, hotels and the travel industry during the last financial crisis. | Kathleen Henehan, a research analyst at the Resolution Foundation, says many graduates "traded down" into jobs in retail, hotels and the travel industry during the last financial crisis. |
| This forced some school leavers into part-time work and jobs where they were less likely to be promoted quickly. | This forced some school leavers into part-time work and jobs where they were less likely to be promoted quickly. |
| But Ms Henehan says many of these sectors are now shut down, leaving everyone with fewer options. | But Ms Henehan says many of these sectors are now shut down, leaving everyone with fewer options. |
| "In other words, the first rung of the employment ladder looks to be broken," she says. | "In other words, the first rung of the employment ladder looks to be broken," she says. |
| Experts say the government should renew its focus on entry-level training. | Experts say the government should renew its focus on entry-level training. |
| The number of apprentices who are under the age of 19 has continued to fall. | The number of apprentices who are under the age of 19 has continued to fall. |
| Ms Henehan says one way young people can ride out this crisis is to stay in school or further education. | Ms Henehan says one way young people can ride out this crisis is to stay in school or further education. |
| For example, the number of 21 to 23-year-olds in further education rose by 7% between 2008 and 2009. | For example, the number of 21 to 23-year-olds in further education rose by 7% between 2008 and 2009. |
| Ms Henehan expects a similar pattern this year, and is urging the government to provide more financial support for school leavers wanting on-the-job training. | Ms Henehan expects a similar pattern this year, and is urging the government to provide more financial support for school leavers wanting on-the-job training. |
| Recent research also suggests young people will live with their parents for longer to help cushion any financial blow. | Recent research also suggests young people will live with their parents for longer to help cushion any financial blow. |
| Around 61% of under-25s who work in shutdown sectors currently live with their parents, according to economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). | Around 61% of under-25s who work in shutdown sectors currently live with their parents, according to economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). |
| University students expecting to graduate soon are also scratching their heads over what to do next. | University students expecting to graduate soon are also scratching their heads over what to do next. |
| The negative impact on job prospects and pay can last for years, with unlucky graduates suffering a permanent hit to incomes, according to one American study. | The negative impact on job prospects and pay can last for years, with unlucky graduates suffering a permanent hit to incomes, according to one American study. |
| Meanwhile, a survey by website Save The Student found that 77% of third-year students, and 74% of those in their fourth year onwards, are worried about their graduate job prospects as a result of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. | Meanwhile, a survey by website Save The Student found that 77% of third-year students, and 74% of those in their fourth year onwards, are worried about their graduate job prospects as a result of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Among them is Adele, who is studying global media and communication at the University of Warwick. | Among them is Adele, who is studying global media and communication at the University of Warwick. |
| The 22-year-old had hoped to steal a march on other job candidates by studying for a Masters, but now sees her friends who left last year in a job, while she is less confident. | The 22-year-old had hoped to steal a march on other job candidates by studying for a Masters, but now sees her friends who left last year in a job, while she is less confident. |
| Jobs she applies for either no longer exist, or the companies have stopped recruiting during the crisis. Letters go unanswered and job adverts are out of date. | Jobs she applies for either no longer exist, or the companies have stopped recruiting during the crisis. Letters go unanswered and job adverts are out of date. |
| "It is all in limbo," she says. | "It is all in limbo," she says. |
| "It is frustrating when you are applying for a sector that is already competitive. It will be even more so, if no new jobs are available." | "It is frustrating when you are applying for a sector that is already competitive. It will be even more so, if no new jobs are available." |
| Instead of living with friends and in a new job in London, she says she may have to live with her parents and work part-time in Edinburgh. | Instead of living with friends and in a new job in London, she says she may have to live with her parents and work part-time in Edinburgh. |
| Additional reporting by Kirsty Grant | Additional reporting by Kirsty Grant |