4 | COVID-19 concerns raised by children and young people Evidence from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey shows that the approximately 3.5 million people employed in the industries most impacted by the economic shutdown in response to COVID-19 tend to be low-wage workers and are disproportionately female and/or young.11 Young people aged 15 to 24 represent over half of all workers exposed to the directly adversely affected industries. This impact is also reflected in the Australian Institute of Family Studies survey of life during the pandemic, which found that 21% of under-30s said they’d been stood down, made redundant, or lost their job or their business during COVID-19, compared to 10% of all participants.12 People aged 18 to 29 were three times (21% vs 7%) more likely than others to have asked for financial support from friends or family during COVID-19. Younger children who raised economic challenges with Kids Helpline typically spoke about a parent losing their job due to COVID-19 and the restrictions. Some children said they were worried about the family finances and that there would be no food. Some reported worries that they may have to move out of the family home or may not be able to attend a private school as planned, which made them feel sad and disappointed. A loss or reduction of employment of a parent was also mentioned as an additional stressor to an already stressed family life, with increased arguments and tensions at home, and more alcohol consumption by adults in the house. While older children and young adults spoke about parental job loss, they also typically mentioned concerns about losing their own jobs, or having their hours or shifts reduced. They also worried that they would not be able to find another job in the future. Some young people said that they were contributing to the family income because their parents and siblings have lost jobs. They spoke about losing employment or having their hours reduced in a variety of workplaces, including radiology and dental, retail, events and festivals, hospitality, and factories, to name a few. 32 Losing employment not only has financial consequences for young people but also psychological ones. Those young people who raised economic impacts spoke about feeling worthless and hopeless as their plans for employment dry up. The inability to find a job and hearing about the dire economic forecast on the media, made those who are about to leave school feel anxious and sad. Young people spoke about how they missed the satisfaction and meaning they got from their jobs. They also missed their work colleagues. Some spoke about the implications of losing employment for their future, for example ending their plans to save money to leave home, for study or for travel. This anxiety about the future was also raised as an issue for international students who had lost employment. Several young people spoke about the uncertainty of having their apprenticeship placed on hold due to COVID-19. A number of young people said they had been forced to move back home due to financial concerns, or were worried that they would have to do so, which was stressful if they did not get on with their family or if they had fears about themselves or a vulnerable person in the family contracting the virus. Some expressed fears that they may not be able to pay their bills and may become homeless, or had already experienced homelessness, such as 'couch surfing'.