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Publication - Research and analysis

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - impact on wellbeing: survey summary

Published
12 March 2021
From
Chief Social Researcher
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland, Health and social care
ISBN
9781800047358

This summary contains key findings from wave two of a telephone survey we commissioned to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people in Scotland including on work and finances, neighbourhood support, personal wellbeing, and behaviour changes.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Work and finances

Over four in ten people (43%) have experienced changes to their work since the beginning of the pandemic. 

The most common change was changing to working from home more (31%).[5]

Some have experienced an increase in hours worked (14%), while others have experienced a decrease (17%). 

People working part-time (27%), self-employed (48%), and those who said they have had COVID-19 (22%) were more likely to have experienced a decrease in work hours.

Figure 1. The five most common changes to work:
Bar chart showing the most common are working from home more (31%) and a decrease in hours (17%)

One in five people who are employed (22%) have made changes to their work to help manage children or other caring responsibilites.

Around one in ten (11%) who experienced changes to their work have lost their job or been made redundant.[6]

Redundancy and job loss were higher amongst people on lower household incomes compared to higher incomes ( > £26,000), and younger people (under the age of 35).

By December 15% were back at work after being on furlough, while 5% were still on furlough. 

9% of adults in rural areas temporarily closed their business, compared with 3% in urban areas.

Figure 2. The proportion of people who have lost their job or been made redundant, by age:

Please note that not all differencBar chart showing the highest proportion is among 16-24 year olds (25%) and lowest among 35-54s (8%)es between age groups are statistically significant

One in four reported their income was lower than before the pandemic. 

63% reported their income was the same, and 12% reported it was higher.

People who were self-employed (56%) and living in the most deprived areas of Scotland (34%) were more likely to report their income was lower.[7]

People with a household income of more than £52,000 were more likely to report their income was higher (20%).

Figure 3. The proportion of people who reported their income was lower than at the start of March 2020, by area:
Bar chart showing a higher proportion in SIMD1 (34%) compared to SIMD5 (20%)

Fewer people in December 2020 reported a decrease in their pre-pandemic income compared with May 2020

The most common action to manage a lower income was spending less on non-essential items (44%).[8]

17% reported using savings, and 17% reported cutting back on essential items, such as food.

The proportion who cut back on essential items was higher for disabled compared to non-disabled people.[9]

20% of adults who said they were not managing well financially have applied for Universal Credit

Figure 4. The proportion who cut back on essential items, such as food to manage lower income, by disability:
Bar chart showing a higher proportion amongst disabled people (37%) than non-disabled (12%)

Contact

Email: covid-19.behaviours@gov.scot

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