Intergenerational inequality: Chapter 4 in Poverty, Income Inequality and Living Standards in Ireland

Young adults have been disproportionately hit by the labour market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) that is funded by the Community Foundation for Ireland.

This shows there were 112,000 fewer 15-34 year olds in paid work in the final quarter of 2020 than a year earlier, compared to 93,000 fewer workers aged 35+. Proportionally, employment was 14 per cent below its pre-pandemic level for those age 15-34 compared to just 6 per cent below for those age 35+.