This is the 51st of a series of bulletins produced by ISE to update members on key data and policy related to Covid-19. This bulletin covers the period 25th March – 7th April 2021. As the speed of Covid news is slowing down at the moment we are switching these bulletins to be fortnightly rather than weekly, but we will keep this under review as the situation develops.

You can access all of the Covid-19 bulletins on ISE insights.

 

Latest Covid-19 data

Data taken from Wikipedia and from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

The UK has now had over 4.3 million identified Covid-19 cases and 149,000 deaths (with Covid on the death certificate). The government has now stopped reporting a national R rate in favour of more localised R rates as it is argued that this gives a better picture of the situation.

The number of new cases is now well below the October average although it is still considerably higher than it was during summer 2020. It is largely continuing to fall, although there was a slight rise last week. The number of deaths has now been dropping for nine weeks and is now below the October level although still higher than summer 2020.

 

Covid news

Data from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

• The UK’s vaccine rollout continues to go well. But there are concerns about both the safety of the AZ vaccine and its supply. Meanwhile two new vaccines are also being rolled out.
• The government is exploring the use of ‘vaccine passports’ in various contexts.
• The mental fatigue caused by lockdown can be quickly reversed by renewed social contact argue Christopher Hand and his colleagues.

 

Education

• More than two in five apprentices failed to complete their apprenticeship standard last year.
• Will students be returning to campus after Easter asks Jim Dickinson. Probably not, in most cases is likely to be the answer. Universities are hoping for a full return to campus by September but the government haven’t included them in the roadmap out of lockdown.
• Mary Curnock Cook launches a new commission to build back HE student success in the post-Covid era.
• New evidence on the earning outcomes from higher education show the way in which ethnicity and social backgrounds shape the salaries that students are likely to earn.

 

The economy

• The Office for National Statistics have released new data on the UKs economy during Covid-19.
• Mid-sized firms report that they are optimistic about the post-Covid recovery and planning for investment and new jobs.

 

The labour market

Data taken from the Office for National Statistics data on unemployment and NEET levels.

• Almost 190,000 retail jobs have been lost since the start of the Covid-crisis.
• The Covid crisis has led to many people changing careers and shaped the aspirations of young people, leading to increased uncertainty. Youth unemployment is likely to prove to be particularly challenging to deal with, leading to campaigners arguing for action to avoid a lost generation.
• The government are opening 80 new Jobcentres to deal with the anticipated rise in unemployment.
• Charlie Ball offers his regular update on the graduate labour market.

 

Changing patterns of work

• The Prime Minister argued for a rapid return to the office, but received some criticism for trying to move too quickly. The Chancellor argued that people need to get back to the office as soon as possible. But, Stephen Bush says that Sunak’s defence of the office doesn’t align with his policies.
• Covid has changed the way that work is organised in the UK. Anoosh Chakelian asks what these changes have been and how long-term they will be. This is also the subject of a new podcast from The Conversation which reflects on how the great remote working experiment will end. While new research suggests that 40% of students want to work remotely when they graduate.
• Some employers are exploring ways to increase surveillance of staff during homeworking including the use of cameras to keep an eye on people.

 

Student recruitment and development

• Diversity remains one of the biggest issues in student recruitment. Recent findings suggest that there is a need for more action to address gender imbalances in the digital sector. Headstart offer four TED talks on diversity and inclusion in HR.
• Employers often complain about the skills of new hires. But, Tristram Hooley argues that this doesn’t mean that they are unhappy with everything and that employer satisfaction with students careers is a mixed bag. While Scott Sallée argues that there is a need to focus on digital skills.
• The development of new hires has been transformed by Covid. With spending on student development falling, Bob Athwal offers his reflections on the Covid period and how to take things forward now it is coming to a close. Christina Orlando argues that there is a need for employers to increase their focus on mental health. While Khairunnisa Mohamedali offers five tips for building virtual communities as part of the development of new hires.