This is the 58th 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 1st July – 15th July 2021.

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

Do you want to write these bulletins? If so apply to work at ISE as a researcher / senior researcher.

Latest COVID-19 data

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

The UK has now had over 5.2 million identified Covid-19 cases and 152,000 deaths (with Covid on the death certificate).

The number of cases has now been rising for ten weeks. The number of deaths has been rising for six weeks and although the number of deaths remains relatively low it is now higher than it was on average during summer 2020. However, some commentators are concerned that numbers could creep higher and overwhelm the NHS.

Covid news

Data from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

• With the plan for a complete end to lockdown on the 19th July and most restrictions on employers disappearing, Devi Sridhar asks ‘can we live with Covid?’ Yes, says new health secretary Sajid Javid. While doctors remain in favour of keeping some restrictions and Tristram Hooley raises some questions about whether a new lockdown will be needed.
• The vaccines seem to be working as expected and preventing Covid deaths. Meanwhile, the ONS reports that vaccine hesitancy is declining. 

Education

• Parent Ping have been looking at the experience of parents during lockdown.
• There is interest in the shift to hybrid learning in higher education. But, Jim Dickinson argues that it will take time.
• The DfE have offered new guidance for higher education following the 19th July. The UCU argues that it is reckless for government to relax the Covid rules on campus.
• Jim Dickinson argues that it is time for higher education to rethink out student part-time work is organised. 

The economy

• Small businesses are calling on the government to provide more help due to Covid-related delays to being able to trade as normal.
• There is growing evidence that Covid has increased inequality. The Resolution Foundation have found that the rich have got richer and the poor poorer during Covid. Grace Blakely argues that Covid has accelerated the corporate takeover of the economy. 

The labour market

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

• Youth unemployment is rising across the globe.
• The UK’s furlough scheme is starting to wind down.
• Charlie Ball offers his summaries of the graduate labour market on the 6th July and the 13th July.

Changing patterns of work

• Many British people have reevaluated their lives during Covid with many feeling less positive about work.
• The potential return to commuting fills some workers with dread according to the Guardian.
• With the shift to hybrid working, The Economist explores what is the best day to work from home.
• Discussion about the value of moving to a four day week has continued in an article by Emmanuelle Katshila. 

Student recruitment and development

• The ISE launched the Complete Guide to Student Recruitment and Development at its annual recruitment conference. Deborah McCormack summarises what we learnt at conference.
• Students are focusing on the wrong skills argue Helen Liddle (SRS) and Tristram Hooley (ISE).
• There are concerns, highlighted by Prospects in new research, about how declining access to work experience is impacting on students career prospects.
• Charlotte Murphy looks at how businesses can recruit for inclusivity. While Careerpass set out ways that organisations can recruit graduates cheaply.
• Rishi Satwik and Aravind Harikumar argue that sustainability is becoming increasingly important to student recruitment.
• ISE have provided a student employment market update for schools.