Lockdown hit the poorest hardest

The clearest message is that the restrictions imposed hit some much harder than others. While island residents bought in as one to the mindset of #GuernseyTogether – and are now reaping the rewards – the cost for some was much higher than others.

Disturbingly, it was those already struggling who bore the financial brunt of lockdown.

Excluding those who are retired, the largest negative impact during June and July was on those who were already in the lower household income bands.

Conversely, those poorer households who did not own their home or live in private rented accommodation found it hardest to cut their expenditure.

The report is a statistician’s delight which confirms that the self-employed were among the hardest hit (seven out of 10 saw a drop in income) while the island benefits system proved its worth in protecting the elderly and people with health issues from the worst.

Women did slightly better than men, Sark struggled more than anywhere, and workers from Latvia were most likely to see their income fall.

Intriguingly, those from Portugal were the second most likely to see a fall in income, but the most likely (about 10%) to see an increase.

And those with a mental or emotional health condition fared worse than those with a physical disability or long-term illness.

The report forms part of a series of surveys that seeks to get under the skin of the Bailiwick and understand what makes our community tick.

With good hygiene habits and a fair wind, we can hope that the lockdown of June and July will never again form a part of our lives.

However, the information gleaned from such surveys has a value beyond the immediate and the obvious. Used well, such data will inform government’s ability to target its benefit measures, grants and subsidies and better protect those most vulnerable to the storms of life.