This is the 54th 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 6th May – 19th May 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 4.4 million identified Covid-19 cases and 151,000 deaths (with Covid on the death certificate).

The number of cases and deaths are continuing to fall most weeks although the last full week of data saw a small rise in case numbers. However, there is concern that the growth of the ‘Indian variant’ may result in a new surge.

The international picture is more worrying with the number of cases peaking again over the last couple of weeks. This has led some to ask what lessons can be learned to prevent this from happening again.

Covid news

Data from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

• Stage 3 of the lockdown roadmap took place as planned. But Devi Sridhar argues that there is a real risk of the third wave if the lockdown is eased too quickly.
• There is growing evidence that vaccines prevent the transmission of Covid as well as its symptoms.

Education

• The Education Policy Institute argues that funding for catch-up in schools needs to be seriously ramped up.
• Covid has left school and college leavers more fearful about the future, less prepared for university than usual and universities worrying about how many students are going to arrive in September.
• Student are now returning to campus. But, what for? asks Jim Dickinson
• The Office for Students has released a new guide for graduates on employment and skills.
• The Career Development Institute have been promoting their new framework for career education and development.

The economy

• The UKs GDP continues to grow although it remains below the level of February 2020.

The labour market

Based on Office for National Statistics data on unemployment and NEET levels.

• Education levels and social class have impacted on individuals’ likelihood of being made unemployed during the Covid crisis and more insecure workers have been explosed to more risk of catching the disease.
• Things seem to be looking up in the labour market. With some indicators suggesting that there are more vacancies being advertised than during February 2020 and unemployment falling (see the latest ONS figures). Amazon have created 10,000 new UK jobs on the back of the online shopping boom.
• In the student labour market, ISE polling suggests that student recruitment is bouncing back leading some to ask whether these are the green shoots of recovery. But not all student recruiters are feeling confident about the future.
• Charlie Ball provides his labour market updates for 10th May and 17th May.

Changing patterns of work

• KPMG have decided to have a blended approach to the return to the office, with staff only coming in two days a week. On the other hand Goldman Sachs are keen to see everyone back in the office.
• Stefan Stern argues that we should resist the ‘workcation’.

Student recruitment and development

• How have candidates experienced recruitment during Covid-19? The ISE podcast explores this issue. While research from Prospects looks at how students have found work experience.
• Looking forward to next year you need to pay attention to key trends that are shaping internships and think about how to make virtual recruitment events stand out.
• Tess McEwan argues that it is also important to take a preventative approach to mental health in student recruitment and development.