The COVID-19 pandemic has posed severe challenges to health systems and economies around the world. While Australia has fared better than many countries in limiting collective and individual hardship, the impact of personal losses and lockdowns, along with a drastically changed global environment, has had a toll on young Australians especially. As with all economic downturns, young people have been particularly exposed to unemployment, lost earnings and reduced opportunities for education and social wellbeing.

The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) provide insight into the lived experiences of young Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent LSAY cohort were about 20 years old in 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic in Australia. In this report, the author explores changes in education, employment, financial circumstances, social circumstances and wellbeing between 2019 and 2020 (that is, ages 19 to 20 for this cohort).