Impact of Covid-19
There is a great deal of uncertainty about the impact of school closures and the cancellation of A-levels on admissions to higher education, but early indications suggest that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds will be most acutely affected. Evidence indicates that high-achieving students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are most likely to be given under-predicted grades, therefore influencing their choice of university and course and, in turn, their future employment prospects.1
All university and third sector outreach activity in schools and on campuses was cancelled and delivered virtually. Lack of access to a stable internet connection, a quiet place to work and an appropriate device emerged for some young people as barriers to participating. Whilst providers adapted swiftly to respond to the pandemic to support students through a time of extreme disruption, it is too early to understand the impact of steps taken.
Some undergraduate students were also hindered during the 2020 lockdown by their lack of access to a stable internet connection and a quiet place to work. A survey by the National Union of Students found that about one-third had difficulty accessing online learning during lockdown.2
In the same survey, three in five students say that Covid-19 has had some impact on their income. Students’ traditional reliance on part-time work in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors — all badly hit by the impact of Covid-19 — is likely to account for much of this. Students experiencing financial hardship without family support will be vulnerable to food and housing insecurity. A recent survey found that 35% of students reported low levels of food security.3
The effects of the recession arising from Covid-19 are not distributed equally across the labour market. Graduates entering the labour market in 2020 are likely to have an especially difficult time. Evidence from previous recessions indicates that graduates will be less likely to find work and more likely to undertake low-skilled employment. They will earn less than they anticipated for a considerable period of time until the economy recovers.4
Footnotes
- Gill Wyness. (2017) Rules of the game. The Sutton Trust.
- National Union of Students. (2020) Coronavirus and students survey: phase II.
- Greta Defeyter et al. (2020) Food insecurity and lived experience of students.
- Paul Johnson. (2020) A bad time to graduate. IFS.
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