Blog by Berthe De Vos, SI United Nations (UN) Representative in Geneva.
“The global survey ‘Youth & COVID-19: Impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being’ carried out this year (April-May 2020), orchestrated by the Youth team in the Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch of the International Labor Office (ILO), has aimed to capture the direct physical and mental impact of this virus on their everyday lives.
This survey received more than 12,000 young respondents from over 112 countries, representing a strong pool of young adult, students, and those who combine study and work in life. The results highlight how the severity of the impact of the pandemic is dependent on variables such as income, gender, and age groups. More specifically, the impact has been harsher on young women, younger youth, and youth in low-income countries. Where 65% of students in high-income countries were able to continue their education through online courses with little disruption, only 18% were able to do so in low-income households.
Even more shockingly, the study shows that 65 % of the young adults have the impression to have learned less than before COVID-19 hit, 51% believe their learning and education trajectory is now delayed, and 9% think they will fail their studies. As much as one out of six students will no longer have the possibility to study due to the closures of their school or training centres.
Furthermore, one in six young professionals have stopped working as a direct result of the economic crisis and 38% are concerned about their professional future. They fear the global crisis will present more obstacles in the workplace, lower salaries and fewer opportunities than before. This will result in more financial and mental strain on our young generations. Up to 50% of young adults in this study, stated that they feel depressed.
The youth luckily never stands still as they continue to show their leadership in a time of uncertainty. The survey reveals that 1 out of 4 young adults have acted as volunteers in their community and are not afraid to speak out and fight for equality and safety during this crisis.
Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General spoke with truth, “The pandemic is inflicting multiple shocks on young people. It is not only destroying their jobs and employment prospects but also disrupting their education and training and having a serious impact on their well-being.”
The results of the survey show that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of more than 70% of the young adults and this impact will be felt by this generation for a long time. From the closing of schools, universities, and training centres to the lack of equipment to thrive at home, such as access to the internet. And that doesn’t touch upon the impact of underprivileged female young adults in certain places in the world, where the entrapment in their homes means falling back into a cycle of traditional household roles and forced marriages.
The ILO urged States to support the jobless young adults in the labor markets and to provide educational training and unemployment insurance benefits. Sangheon Lee, ILO Director of Employment Policy stated: “The COVID-19 pandemic has a systematic, deep and disproportionate impact on young people and we must react now.”
Feature image courtesy of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).