Young people’s economic security has long been overlooked.

We all need economic security – to be confident we can maintain a decent quality of life, now and in the future.

Our economic security is shaped by – and shapes – a complex web of factors in our lives: the jobs we do, the homes we live in, our opportunities for education and training, and our access to support from welfare, family and community.

The Covid-19 pandemic has confronted us with just how vulnerable young people are to economic insecurity.

But little attention has been given to this important topic.

We are exploring how young people experience economic insecurity and how it affects their present and future health. We will amplify young people’s voices and champion reform protecting and promoting their economic security.

This project is part of The Health Foundation’s Young people’s future health inquiry. The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK.

Age of insecurity: Young people’s economic security in the age of atomisation

Young people in 2022 face an endemic lack of security. Our research shows nearly half of young people today live precariously. Clearly, systemic individualism is not working.

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