This is the eighth of a series of bulletins produced by ISE to update members on key data and policy on Covid-19. This bulletin just covers the period 07/05/2020-13/05/2020.

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

The week in Covid-19

Data taken from Wikipedia.

The end of lockdown

• The Prime Minister broadcast an address on Sunday evening setting out the approach that the government was taking to the end of lockdown (see full text). Critics argued that it was too vague on the details and caused confusion. A more detailed plan was published the next day.
• The government publishes new health and safety guidelines to aid workplaces to reopen safely.
• New guidance has been prepared for the transport network to aid commuters and work-based travel to stay safe.

Education

• The government would like to see schools opening from 1st June. However, unions have expressed safety concerns and set out a list of tests that they would like to see met before reopening. This means that the 1st June date is in doubt.
• Financial problems are continuing to grow for higher education providers due to the loss of international students and fears about domestic student numbers.
• Doubts are still being raised about whether university students will be able to start next term as usual in September or October. Could a staggered start be the answer?
• A group of key bodies including the Institute of Student Employers have written to the government and politicians arguing that career guidance provision needs to be improved to address the crisis.

Labour market

• The furlough scheme has been extended by four months.
• A summary of the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market has been produced by McKinsey and Company.
• Which occupations have the highest exposure to Covid-19? Analysis from the Office for National Statistics.

The student labour market

• A survey of final year higher education students suggests that they are already feeling the impact of a contracting labour market.
• The Resolution Foundation anticipate that the number of unemployed young people will grow to over a million. Stephen Isherwood (ISE, CEO) discusses youth unemployment on the SkillsWorld podcast.
• In between days. An update on the graduate labour market from Charlie Ball.

Student recruitment

• Apprenticeship starts are down. James Hammill discusses what Covid-19 means for apprentices. While, Stuart Shield makes the argument as to why a business should take on an apprentices in the current climate.
• Making a business case for long-term recruitment. (ISE blog from Stephen Isherwood).
• How to ace your first job interview when you’re behind a webcam (from Jack Rea in the Daily Telegraph).

Employer insights

The following insights are based on ISE’s interactions with employers during the period covered by this briefing.

• Recruitment numbers for this year are likely to be down for all types of hires.
• Recruitment targets for next year are still being set. Some employers know what they are planning to do next year, while others are still figuring it out.
• Lot of recruitment and development activity has moved online. Most employers expect that it will stay online next year.