Contextual career decision making: influence of COVID-19 on attitudes towards university and post-school transitions of rural school-leavers in Scotland

The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented circumstances globally. School-leavers were affected as they saw their plans put on hold. This qualitative longitudinal study followed sixteen rural school-leavers from Scotland between 2021–2023 as they navigated their career plan and examines their choices considering the pandemic and how this interacted with attitudes towards university and socio-economic status (SES). These school-leavers whilst qualified to participate in university had chosen a different post-school route, a previously under-studied group. Findings were that young people’s transition were affected due to limited information-gathering, uncertainty around future plans and qualifications contributing to a mental health impact. The findings demonstrate that young people continued to experience an impact of Covid-19 beyond the lock-down, potentially impacting their career and participation in the labour market.