Young hospitality workers and the COVID-19 pandemic: work, family support and wellbeing

Young people are disproportionately vulnerable to the economic implications of public health responses designed to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly evident when engaging with the experiences of young hospitality workers. Although generally experiencing low COVID-19 fatality rates compared to members of older age groups, the consequences of lost shifts and lost income have cascading effects for young people broadly. These include their physiological health and mental wellbeing; living situations; education; and both intimate and familial relationships. This report presents findings from a study conducted between May - June 2020 amongst young hospitality workers living in the Australian cities of Melbourne (Victoria)and Newcastle (New South Wales), focusing on how the pandemic-related loss of work had impacted the participants’ lives.