This is the 52nd 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 8th April – 21st April 2021.

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 150,000 deaths (with Covid on the death certificate). Worldwide more than three million people have now died from Covid.

The number of new cases and the number of deaths are now below the level that they were at the end of 2020. Although rates are still higher than they were during summer 2020. The number of cases and deaths are continuing to fall most weeks.

Covid news

Data from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

• The government’s lockdown roadmap is on track, but the Prime Minister warns the country to be aware of the risks. The ONS reports that compliance with Covid regulations is generally high.
• The vaccination programme is going well, but Robin McKie asks if vaccination is enough. The Prime Minister admits that the answer to this question is probably not.
• International travel could become more widely available from mid-May as Covid regulations are relaxed.

Education

• Government has been warned that its ‘catch up’ scheme for schools is likely to be insufficient to deal with the amount of lost learning.
• Universities will not fully open campuses before mid-May. Leading to some students asking for the opportunity to repeat the year.
• WONKHE asks what can be learnt from the pandemic for the student experience.

The economy

• Vicky Price discusses the impact of the third lockdown on the economy. Things have been bad, but not as bad as they could be.
• More recently, as lockdown eases, there are a range of positive signs about the economy. Optimism is generally high amongst business leaders although others are not so sure. But Grace Blakely argues that there are different kinds of recovery and not all of them benefit everyone equally.

The labour market

Data taken from the Office for National Statistics data on unemployment and NEET levels. Unemployment seems to be levelling out and even falling at the moment. Of course, the end of furlough comes may result in a change in this picture. There are also concerns that the picture is not as positive for young people.

• Various data has emerged showing that the labour market is rebounding. But young people are bearing the brunt of unemployment. There is also concern that unemployment is impacting on black and ethnic minority people more. See the April briefing from the Institute of Employment Studies.
• The government is recruiting more youth focused work coaches to support young people back into work. It has also announced a new offer for graduates.
• Charlie Ball offers his updates on the graduate labour market on 12th April and 20th April.

Changing patterns of work

• The Economist argues that the post-Covid working world is going to be a better one for workers.
• There has been a substantial increase in homeworking.

Student recruitment and development

• The shift online in recruitment and development is becoming increasingly clear. This is why it is important to know about developing a hybrid recruitment strategy, building communities online and to guard against netpotism.
• Diversity continues to be an important theme in student employment. Racism is still a problem for the field argues Tristram Hooley.
• Retaining the students that you hire is critical. But, what strategies work to ensure retention? And how can you ensure good mental health and wellbeing?