Long-term employment impact of pandemic

Next week the House of Lords COVID-19 Select Committee will hear from witnesses on the potential long-term impact the pandemic has had on parents’ employment and what action is needed from the Government and others to tackle any identified issues. This session continues the Committee’s exploration into the overall long-term impact of the pandemic on parents and families.

The session will take place virtually at 9.45am on Tuesday 25 May and will be available to watch live or on demand at Parliament TV.

Giving evidence will be:

9.45am

Laura Dewar, Policy and Research Lead, Gingerbread;
Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare;
Simon Kelleher, Head of Policy and Influencing, Working Families; and
Molly Mayer, Senior Research and Policy Officer, Fawcett Society.

Themes for discussion

• The number of parents who are unemployed, or working reduced hours, because of the pandemic, and the long-term impact this may have on their families’ economic and emotional wellbeing.
• Whether current childcare provision is adequate to support parents’ employment prospects post-pandemic.
• Whether the pandemic could result in a long-term trend for more flexible employment opportunities, and the potential advantages and disadvantages for parents.
• Whether the pandemic could result in fathers doing a greater share of childcare.
• What the long-term impact might be, if any, on the gender pay gap.