Coronavirus: Impact on Young Women on Low Income

This briefing looks at how the coronavirus outbreak impacted women on lower incomes. The briefing is published jointly with UK Women's Budget Group, Engender and Close the Gap (Scotland), Women Equality Network Wales, and Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group (NIWBG). 

This research was funded by Standard Life Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. 

Read the research briefing here.  

It sets out the experiences of young people during 2021. It comprises analysis of data from a survey of 1,026 adults in the UK aged 18 to 30 conducted in early June. 

 Key findings include: 

• 1 in 3 (30%) of furloughed young women from low-income households (£0 - £19,999) had their salary topped up by their employer compared to almost half (47%) of both furloughed young women from higher-income households (£40,000+) and young men from low-income households and two-thirds (66%) of men from higher-income households.  

• Twice as many (43%) young women from low-income households said their financial situation had become worse because of the pandemic compared to 21% of young women from higher-income households and 35% of young men from low-income households and just 16% of men from higher-income households.  

• Young men (38%) and young women on low incomes were just as likely to be worried about losing their job when the furlough scheme ends compared to 17% of young women and 19% of young men on higher incomes.   

• Over a half (57%) of young women from low-income households said their mental health had become worse during the coronavirus pandemic compared to 49% young women from higher-income households and 42% young men of all income levels. 

• Over one third (35%) of young women on low-incomes were less likely to buy a house in the following 12 months compared to 12% of young women on higher-incomes as well as 20% young men of all income levels.   

This new research shows that we need policies that truly support young women, including a stronger safety net, support for sectors such as hospitality and retail that have been hard hit by the pandemic, and investment in care as we recover from the pandemic. 

Photo by Liza Summer from Pexels. 

Published 23rd August 2021.