MORE than one in four young people are worried that poor mental health will affect their ability to find a job, new research suggests.

The Resolution Foundation said the mental health impact of the pandemic could have lasting repercussions for young people.

The think tank said its study of 8,000 adults, supported by the Health Foundation, indicated that one in five of those aged 18 to 24 said their mental health was poor despite the easing of the pandemic crisis.

Young people have been disproportionately affected by the economic impact of the pandemic, said the foundation.

Just over one in four 18 to 24-year-olds said that they were concerned about finding a job due to mental health struggles, compared with one in five people between the ages of 35 and 54, and just one in 10 of those aged 55 to 64.

The Resolution Foundation’s Rukmen Sehmi said: “Young people have been hit hardest by the Covid-19 economic crisis, which has taken its toll on their mental health.

“Worryingly, some young people are struggling even while the economy is recovering, and they are fearful about their career prospects. These fears must not be underestimated.

“Targeted health and career support for those young people most at risk of poor mental health, including young women, students, and young people who are out of work, should be a priority for both employers and policymakers.”

A separate report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said the careers of young adults have been heavily disrupted by the pandemic, but there has been little sign of increases in deprivation among this group.

However, it found that more young people living with their parents has “papered over the cracks.”