The ILO’s survey “Youth and COVID-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights and Mental Well-being” showed that if urgent action is not taken, young people are at risk of suffering from the severe and long-lasting negative effects of the epidemic.
United nations:
Half of the world's young population is exposed to anxiety or depressive conditions and more than a third are unsure of their future career prospects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey by the International Labor Organization - one of the United Nations agencies.
The ILO’s survey of “Youth and COVID-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights and Mental Well-being” found that if urgent action is not taken, young people are at risk of suffering from the severe and long-lasting negative effects of the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives. Even before the outbreak of the crisis, the social and economic inclusion of young people was an ongoing challenge. Now, unless urgent action is taken, young people are likely to suffer severely and the long-term effects of the epidemic.”
The ILO survey aimed to monitor the direct effects of the epidemic on the lives of young people (between the ages of 18 and 29) in relation to employment, education, mental health, rights and social activity.
Over 12,000 responses were received from 112 countries, and a large percentage of educated youth came with access to the Internet.
The survey found that one in two (50 percent) of young people worldwide may experience anxiety or depression, while 17 percent may be affected by it.
The poll stated that "severe disruption in learning and work, which was exacerbated by the health crisis, led to a deterioration in the mental health of youth."
Mental health is lowest for young women and men between the ages of 18 and 24.
Young adults whose education or work was disrupted or almost completely stopped were more likely to have anxiety or depression than those who continued to work or whose education was not affected.
"This confirms the interrelationships that exist between mental well-being, educational success and integration in the labor market," she added.
Among those who thought their education would be delayed or might fail, 22 percent were most likely to be affected by anxiety or depression, compared to 12 percent of students whose education remained on track.
According to the report, 38 percent of young people are unsure of their future career prospects, as the COVID-19 crisis is expected to create more obstacles in the labor market and prolong the transition from school to work.
The Corona virus, which first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has claimed more than 7.4 million lives, with more than 20 million confirmed cases worldwide so far.
The ILO survey said that some young people have already felt the direct impact of the epidemic, with one in six young people having to stop working since the virus outbreak.
Many young workers work in highly vulnerable sectors, such as subsidies, services, or sales-related businesses, which makes them more vulnerable to the economic consequences of the pandemic.
The report said that 73 percent of young people, who were either studying or combining study and work before the start of the crisis, were subjected to school closures even though they were all unable to move to online and distance learning.
Coronavirus has left one in eight young people (13 per cent) without any access to courses, teaching or training - a situation that is particularly acute among youth in low-income countries and helps accentuate the acute digital divide that exists between regions.
She added that despite the tremendous efforts by schools and training institutions to provide continuity through online delivery, 65 percent of young people reported that they have learned less since the epidemic began.
51 percent think their education will be delayed, and 9 percent fear their education will be affected and may fail.
The pandemic is also taking a heavy toll on young workers, destroying their jobs and undermining their career prospects.
One in six young men (17 percent) who were employed before the outbreak, have completely stopped working, particularly younger workers between the ages of 18 and 24, and those who work in clerical support, services, sales, handicrafts, and related professions.
Working hours among young workers decreased by nearly a quarter (an average of two hours per day), and two out of five young men (42 percent) reported a decrease in their income.
The survey said that young people in low-income countries are most vulnerable to reduced working hours and the resulting contraction in income.
"The epidemic is inflicting multiple shocks on young people. It is not only destroying their jobs and jobs, but also jobs," said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
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