Majority of younger people feel Covid had negative impact on career

A new survey has revealed that as many as 89% of those aged 16-18 believe that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their career prospects.

The 16-18-year-olds surveyed said that Covid has had a negative impact on:

• Learning opportunities (cited by 91%)
• Work experience placements (91%)
• Academic achievements (89%)
• Earning potential (84%)
• Career prospects (83%)
• Apprenticeship opportunities (80%)

The report, compiled by Totaljobs and Career Ready, found that 50% of 16-18-year-olds are not confident they will secure a job in their desired field because of the impact of Covid and the rising cost of living. A further 24% believe that university is not an option for them because of associated costs.

Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa, CEO of Career Ready, commented, “Covid and the cost-of-living crisis has hit young people hard, and without proper investment we risk a generation of lost talent in the workplace, especially young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

“One of the most effective ways to change this is for employers to invest in young talent via paid internships and career mentoring. We urge more businesses to join us in helping young people to launch their careers and unlock their skills.”

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