COVID-19 and the immediate impact on young people and employment in Australia: A gendered analysis

Abstract

Young people have been regarded as “not at risk” of coronavirus, but what about the economic impact of social distancing and “lockdowns” arising from the pandemic? How have young women fared in comparison to young men? To address these questions, this study draws upon data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, comparing young men and women and their older counterparts. The study also uses the Global Financial Crisis as a reference point to compare the immediate impact of COVID-19 on young people. Results suggest that young people have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 compared to older Australians. Young women in particular are being exposed to the economic fallout, especially thos..