[ad_1]
According to a special report from the Central Statistical Office (CSO), almost half of the population over 15 years old (47%) has had their working circumstances altered.
And more than a third (34 percent) of these now work remotely from home.
To assess the impact of Covid-19 on people’s lives, the OSC added some additional questions to its latest Workforce Survey, which was conducted just as the virus hit Ireland.
Of those whose work situation has been affected, 14 percent said they had lost their jobs, while 33 percent said they had been temporarily laid off.
The impact on employment was greatest for younger workers, with 46 percent of youth ages 15-24 laid off.
About 4 percent of those whose work was affected said they had to take paid vacations, but almost double that amount (7 percent) reported that they had to take unpaid leave.
The figures also suggest that an overwhelming majority (94 percent) of people who have lost their jobs, were temporarily laid off, or are on leave (paid or unpaid) expect to return to the same job.
Toll
The impact of the crisis on employment was felt most intensely in the age group of 35 to 44 years, where two thirds reported effects on employment.
About 24 percent of this age cohort also reported having child care problems and a similar percentage reported having difficulty working from home with the family around them.
The least affected groups, in terms of employment, were the categories of 15 to 24 years and over 65 years.
The emotional cost of the pandemic was also reflected in the figures: 17 percent of people admitted being concerned about money, while 24 percent admitted feeling lonely.
More than a quarter (26 percent) said they were afraid to shop for fear of contracting the virus. People over 65 and older were more afraid of shopping (41 percent).
However, the emotional impacts were not all negative. In the pandemic, 46 percent of the population age 15 and older increased positive family time, and 59 percent of the population reported increased contact with the family by phone, Skype, Facetime, or other platforms.
The OSC compiled the questions on its own initiative and added them as a special module to the Labor Force Survey for the second quarter of 2020. The OSC said the objective was “to provide information on the effects of Covid-19 on the employment situation of people and their general welfare “.
Dara was based on a survey of 2,288 people aged 15 and over, gathered from April 8 to 23 through telephone interviews.
Commenting on the data, CSO statistic Sinead Bracken said: “Since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been many changes in employment and everyday life for the people of Ireland.”
“This publication looks at changes in work / employment, emotional well-being, the effect on finances and the impact on families of the Irish population aged 15 and over,” he said.
[ad_2]