Blog: Can Scotland’s young people help bring home the harvest?

Blog by Susan Murray, Director, David Hume Institute

7th April 2020

The global economy is in sudden and severe recession.  Before Covid-19 everyone was talking about the labour market and migration.  Now, just a few weeks on, the debate is very different.  

Farmers are now desperately looking for people willing to harvest crops in Scotland. Recruitment websites have been set up to target redundant hospitality industry workers and farmers are trying Facebook posts to recruit workers.

Could young people who no longer have school work and exams come to the nation’s rescue to help bring home the harvest for everyone?

Until recently it was normal for people of all ages in Scotland to help with the harvest.  The legacy of this remains in the school holiday timings – an earlier summer holiday than England, a September weekend and in some parts of Scotland an extended October holiday. It was also normal for young people to have part-time jobs whilst still in education.  

Initially, any new recruits obviously won’t be as quick as the skilled migrants but thousands of young people will have been cooped up inside for weeks, surely there is a ready supply of labour?  Any new scheme would need to ensure it was in-line with government guidance on social distancing and correct health and safety but this would be a win-win.

There has been a steady decline in recent years of young people undertaking work while studying.  It used to be normal for young people to get Saturday and holiday jobs as soon as they were old enough.  Many had paper rounds from the age of 13 or worked in shops from 15 years old.  These jobs taught important life skills and encouraged independence, as well as ensuring a short distraction from the pressure of school work.

A recent report from UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) and London Economics “The Death of the Saturday Job” showed a stark decline in young people working while studying. Exam grades have become the sole focus for many young people, whilst employers bemoan the lack of transferable skills of new entrants. 

The stark decline of earning while learning in the UK has not been seen in other OECD countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland and Denmark. This lack of exposure to working environments means young people are not developing life and employability skills in the same way as their peers in other countries.  

Even for those young people already in work, an IFS report shows the under 25s and women will be most hit by the impact of Coronovirus shutdowns.

Encouraging available young people to help with the work that desperately needs doing could be the answer if we are to avoid losing a harvest and young workers to a post Coronvirus slump.  Having a daily purpose can help avoid depression and develop skills that lead to higher earnings in future.  

The evidence in both reports is compelling.  

Even without the immediate desperate need for farm workers in Scotland, youth employment – earning while learning - is important and should to be encouraged.