The Virtual Experience (This is Not Stress Free)

COVID-19 has contributed to a profound sense of isolation and loneliness. If this continues, today’s youth face a number of health setbacks. Without opportunities to interact with individuals, their social skills suffer. Youngsters are also consuming more junk food as a coping mechanism for isolation. They also risk becoming depressed because of this and these symptoms may be long-lasting. Materially, they also face the consequences of lost opportunities, including in-person learning and getting jobs. This exacerbates the uncertain environment and creates a sense of agency loss, that nothing is in their control anymore. 

As we stagger out of the pandemic, policy should be focused on rebuilding the skills lost during the pandemic, particularly reducing barriers to connecting with one another. To maintain human capital accumulation to help today’s youth thrive in the future labour market, the post-COVID world should focus on developing skills that are expected to be in high demand.