ESRI Study Reveals COVID-19's Disproportionate Impact on Young People's Employment in Ireland

A recent study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that the COVID-19 pandemic had the most significant employment impact on young people in Ireland, while higher education served as a protective factor. The research, which compared the labor market situation before and after the pandemic, revealed that although employment rates increased for nearly all groups post-pandemic, the patterns of inequalities persisted.

The study showed that young people experienced the greatest drops in employment and participation during the pandemic. However, as the pandemic subsided in 2022, their employment rate had risen more than other age groups. Education played a critical role, with much higher employment rates among those with higher education levels throughout the period.

While the overall labor market recovery post-pandemic was described as "extraordinary," likely facilitated by large-scale state intervention through employment and social welfare supports, some groups fared poorer than others. Those with lower education levels and disabled people, particularly those strongly limited in their activities, faced greater challenges in terms of labor market participation and the nature of work available to them.

Why this matters: The findings emphasize the persistent inequalities in the labor market and the need for targeted employment strategies to support historically marginalized groups. The study also highlights the importance of access to education as a protective factor against economic shocks and the role of government interventions in mitigating the impact of crises on vulnerable populations.

The ESRI study also found that access to remote working was not evenly spread, with workers with lower education and those living in rural areas benefiting less. The rise in remote working was strongly patterned by occupation and sector, with the greatest increases in IT and financial services. The report stresses the need for ongoing monitoring of the effects of remote work on work and workers.

The study, part of the IHREC/ESRI Research programme examining equality and discrimination in Ireland, concludes that COVID-related supports could be useful in future labor market crises if carefully designed and adequately resourced. It also highlights the need for good data on unpaid work and labor market data on key groups like disabled people and ethnic minorities to inform targeted policies and interventions.

Key Takeaways

• COVID-19 had biggest employment impact on young people in Ireland.
• Higher education served as a protective factor against job losses.
• Disabled people and those with lower education faced greater challenges.
• Remote work access was uneven, benefiting those in IT and finance.
• COVID-19 supports could be useful for future crises if well-designed.