The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on universities and work
The effectss of the Covid pandemic are being felt in just about all productive sectors. However, one of the most important alarm bells is being sounded by the universities, which have recorded a dramatic and constant decline in enrolments during the last two years of pandemic.
As the post-Covid recovery moves forward in Italy, the lack of new university enrolments is matched by a significant fall in youth unemployment. This unusual trend is supported by the growing demand for non-specialist workers, a factor which is encouraging many school leavers not to continue with their academic studies.
Covid and university: a growing contrast
The last two years have been very complicated, as the coronavirus has changed the global population’s lifestyle. Of all the different categories, students have paid the highest price, as the forced lockdowns and distance learning have literally turned their lives upside down.
School leavers’ recent indifference towards academic study has only served to make the already precarious situation of Italian universities worse. Even before the pandemic, the Italian university system was considered a poor relation in Europe, with only 20.1 percent of young people achieving a degree compared to the European average of 32.8 percent.
A drop in enrolments had already been seen in 2020 but it was thought that young people had decided to take a break from their studies due to the uncertain situation linked to the pandemic and would likely continue their studies in 2021.
These hopes have been completely dashed if we refer to university enrolment figures for 2022, with over 10000 fewer students compared to the previous year. By comparing the current numbers with those of 2020, the decrease is even more evident, with 24000 fewer enrolments.
The same scenario is being observed in other nations such as the USA, where, as a result of the pandemic, there has been a decrease of 2% in the number of students returning to college and over one million fewer enrolments.
Effects of the Covid pandemic on the world of work
As mentioned above and in contrast with what might be expected, these statistics derive from a series of consequences connected with Covid, which have led, surprisingly, to a fall in youth unemployment in Italy.
This trend is due to the fact that for those with a diploma in mechanics or IT, it is relatively easy to find work. The real risk in all this however is that more and more school leavers, attracted by the prospect of a stable job, prefer to look for work rather than continue their academic studies.
Young people know that a degree can lead to a more prestigious positions and significantly higher salaries, but they are often put off by obstacles such as the long and difficult years of study required and the precarious financial circumstances of many families, often as a direct result of the coronavirus.
Further complicating this problem is the inability of certain companies to find suitable candidates to fill job vacancies. Considering that the new generations view university study as less important and therefore tend to possess a more basic level of education, it is difficult to find suitable candidates with sufficient training to fill specific professional roles.
Another consequence of the Covid pandemic is the increase in smart working, a form of remote working which has had positive effects on the environment by reducing the number of vehicles on the roads and therefore emissions, but at the same time has been detrimental to many businesses such as bars and restaurants, which have suffered losses of around 850 million euros.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
