The COVID-19 pandemic has affected daily life since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The adoption of viral suppression measures, including social distancing and both localised and national lockdowns, has led to an increase in economic inactivity and changes to the labour market. According to Office of National Statistics estimates (ONS October 2020), since March 2020 the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom has been slowing and unemployment has risen sharply with the most dramatic decline being during the early stages of the pandemic. The effect of these changes to employment status (increased/decreased hours, periods of furloughed employment, redundancy, change in employment) on physical and mental health and health behaviours (alcohol consumption, exercise, diet) during the pandemic is currently unclear. An important consideration is whether different social factors (e.g. gender, ethnicity, economic situation, clinical vulnerability to COVID-19) contribute to poorer health and wellbeing during the pandemic because of changes in employment status. Understanding how social inequalities may contribute to changes in employment and health outcomes can help to identify vulnerable groups for additional support to reduce health difficulties and promote wellbeing.

Using data from Children of the 90s, we can examine participants’ employment status, wellbeing, and health behaviours before and during the pandemic to help us answer these questions and inform social and economic policy.