Young black people 'hit hardest by Covid job losses', think tank warns

14 April 2021, 06:14 | Updated: 14 April 2021, 06:35

Young black people have been hit hardest by Covid unemployment, the think tank said
Young black people have been hit hardest by Covid unemployment, the think tank said. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Young black people and recent education leavers have been hit hardest by the rise in unemployment during the pandemic, an economic think tank has warned.

Analysis by the Resolution Foundation (RF) found that the coronavirus crisis had widened existing unemployment gaps between ethnic groups in the UK, particularly among education-leavers.

The think tank - which focuses on those on low and middle incomes, said that before the pandemic - unemployment among young people with a black background was 25 per cent, but has since risen by more than a third to 35 per cent.

For those from an Asian background it has risen from 21 per cent to 24 per cent, while for those from a white background it has increased from 10 per cent to 13 per cent.

In general, workers aged between 18 and 24 years old bore the brunt of job losses as they disproportionately worked in sectors such as hospitality and leisure - which had been worst affected by the pandemic - the RF said.

Read more: Vaccine hesitancy among black Britons 'decreases by half' - ONS

Watch: Teacher defends teaching black history across all school subjects in UK

David Lammy: I long for the day we won't have the term black

The think tank found that between April to June and July to September 2020, the unemployment rate among that age group rose from 11.5 per cent to 13.6 per cent.

This 18 per cent increase represented the largest quarter-on-quarter rise among 18-24-year-olds since 1992.

It also said those aged between 16 and 24 made up 57 per cent of the fall in employment between the three months prior to January 2020 and the three months ahead of January 2021.

Meanwhile, those leaving education during the pandemic also faced particular difficulties, with unemployment among non-graduate leavers rising from 14 per cent to 18 per cent between 2019 and 2020 - a 28 per cent increase.

Among graduates, it was up from 10 per cent to 14 per cent - a rise of 40 per cent.

Watch: 'Racism is a greater risk for black people than Covid', caller says

Watch: Caller brands landmark race report 'political hit job on Black Lives Matter'

Racism now is worse than in the 1980s, caller tells David Lammy

Kathleen Henehan, a senior research and policy analyst at the RF, said ministers should prioritise the job prospects for young people as the economy recovers.

"The furlough scheme has done a fantastic job of minimising job losses amidst unprecedented shutdowns of our economy," she said.

"But young people have still experienced a sharp rise in unemployment during the Covid-19 crisis - with recent education-leavers and young black people being hardest hit.

"Young people have sacrificed their livelihoods in order to save the lives of others from Covid-19, and putting their careers back on track must be a priority for government in the months and years ahead."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Live
US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls as election day arrives

US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls in the final race for the White House

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion

Exclusive
Nigel Farage speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari about new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Remainers are back in town': Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch will bring 'no change whatsoever' to Tories

Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to show this year following 'medical emergency'

Scott Paterson murdered his landlady Annette Smith

Tenant murdered and dismembered elderly landlady before posing as her by sending Christmas cards to family

Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Mel Stride will all serve in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch names former leadership rivals Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel to Tory Shadow Cabinet team

Bridget Phillipson has confirmed the tuition fee rise

University tuition fees to rise for first time in eight years, as Tories accuse Labour of 'declaring war on students'

Sara Sharif had suffered dozens of injuries in the weeks leading up to her death, a court has heard

Video of Sara Sharif smiling and dancing 'days before murder' shown to court

Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers that no Tube services are expected on Thursday 7 November

November Tube strikes to bring London to a halt this week despite RMT calling off action