HEALTH, WEALTH & HAPPINESS - REPORT 20/21 - LIFESEARCH
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HEalth,
Wealth &
HAppiness Report
20/21Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Disclaimer
The Health, Wealth & Happiness
Index was compiled by the
Centre for Economics and
Business Research (Cebr) for
LifeSearch in January and April
2021 and will be refreshed in the
coming quarters. The Index is
based on a modelling process
taking into account a range of
data sources covering health,
wealth, and happiness and
monitoring changes over time.
Consumer research was carried
out by Opinium Research
between 5-12 March 2021
among 3,025 UK adults.
02Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Introduction
Emma Walker In the normal run of things, LifeSearch publish the Health, Wealth and
Happiness Report at year’s end. In fact, I closed the last report in 2019 - which
Chief Marketing Officer
LifeSearch seems like a lifetime ago - by saying “I can’t wait for Health, Wealth and
Happiness 2020.”
At that point, few could have guessed what was in store.
In the 16 or so months since, I don’t think our conceptions of health, wealth
and happiness have ever felt so vulnerable, threatened and insecure. Not in
living memory, anyway. Certainly not on this scale.
So when the time came to prepare for this, the latest Health, Wealth and
Happiness report, LifeSearch decided to drill deeper and lock the UK’s
pandemic-era health, wealth and happiness trends into history.
We commissioned the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) to
create the foundations of this report and the result is a major new addition to
the socio-economic conversation: The Health, Wealth and Happiness Index.
The debuting Index dates back a decade and will henceforth be updated
every quarter, tracking these fundamendals of life as we walk the road of
recovery.
To complement the macro trends of the Index, we also wanted this report to
shine a light on the stories - the snapshots of life for individuals, families,
businesses and colleagues during the disruption of a pandemic.
What we found was a tale of two halves, negatives and positives. Some used
the pandemic as an opportunity to regroup and level up. Others got swept up.
Some tapped new heights in health and raised their financial game. Others
struggled to stay afloat.
Health, Wealth and Happiness 20/21 is a story of those who did and those
who didn’t. Those who could and those who couldn’t. Those who got ahead
and those who weren’t so lucky.
Yet for all the differences, plenty still unites us. Our frustrations, fears and
anxieties, sure. But also our priorities, our goals and our hopes.
In that spirit, I’ll close by saying that I hope to be regularly in a room, once
again, with my friends and family, and with my LifeSearch colleagues who’ve
worked tirelessly on this project.
See you on the other side,
Emma
03Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
contents
The Headlines 05
The Health, Wealth & Happiness Index 11
Health 14
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin 17
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact 23
Wealth 30
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin 32
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Impact 38
Happiness 43
UK Happiness 20/21 - The Positive Spin 46
Uk Happiness 20/21 - The Impact 51
The Pandemic Pound 59
Future Threats to Health Wealth & Happiness 64
Future Opportunities in Health Wealth & Happiness 70
Trustometers 76
The Future in Protection/ Insurance 86
Appendix 87
04Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The
Headlines
05Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Headlines
The Headlines
UK’s Health, Wealth and HEalth, Wealth & Happiness Index (2020)
Happiness Index plummeted Q4 2019 96.2
to its lowest levels in a Q1 2020 92.9
decade. Q2 2020 marks the
Q2 2020 71.6
lowest level since at least 2011.
Q3 2020 82.4
The Health Index tumbled to Q4 2020 78.2
50.4 in Q2 2020, a fall of 48%
Q1 2021 74.3
on the preceding quarter and
the largest drop on record.
HEalth Index (2020)
Q4 2019 88.1
The Wealth Index suffered
significant falls, to 79.5 in Q2, Q1 2020 88.4
and lower again to 76.3 in Q3, Q2 2020 50.4
but has not yet fallen as low Q3 2020 84.2
as the 66.4 seen in Q4 2011.
Q4 2020 75.8
The Happiness Index suffered Q1 2021 63.0
tumultuous falls in 2020. The
record low of 78.5 in Q4 was Wealth Index (2020)
quickly ousted by a new floor Q4 2019 101.5
of 76.4 in Q1 2021. Q1 2020 96.5
Q2 2020 79.5
Q3 2020 76.3
Q4 2020 80.3
Q1 2021 83.6
Happiness Index (2020)
Q4 2019 99.1
Q1 2020 93.7
Q2 2020 84.8
Q3 2020 86.5
Q4 2020 78.5
Q1 2021 76.4
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
06Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Headlines
A Tale of two halves - health
25% 29%
of Brits say they’re generally healthier now of us say we’re less healthy - including 32%
than before the start of the pandemic. of women.
25% 36%
or one in four Brits say their diet got better say they’ve been comfort eating more, rising
during the pandemic. to 43% of women and 49% of 18-34s.
1 in 4 1 in 3
feel fitter now, rising to 30% for those or 34% of Brits feel less fit now than
furloughed and 39% for 18-34s pre-Covid, rising to 38% of women.
27% 21%
of the UK population say they drank less drank more alcohol, rising to 24% of 35-54
alcohol, rising to 30% of women. year olds, and 29% of 18-34 year olds.
14% 39%
of UK population say their mental health has say their mental health has gotten worse
improved over the last year. since the start of the pandemic.
07Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Headlines
A Tale of two halves - Wealth
29% 24%
of Brits feel better off financially now than or nearly a quarter of the UK feel worse off
before the pandemic. during and as a result of Covid.
24% 21%
say they’ve saved more money than they reviewed their spending. 7% delayed buying
otherwise would have. homes and cars, and 1% remortgaged.
34% 35%
or more than one in three 18-34 year olds of part-time workers and 37% of those on
say they’re better off. furlough say they’re worse off.
28% 72%
are not concerned about their finances in are concerned about their finances in future.
future.
34% 20%
or more than one in three people worked of that 34%, one in five said it was because
extra hours during the pandemic. they needed the extra cash.
08Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Headlines
A tale of two halves - Happiness
16% 46%
say they’re happier now than pre-pandemic, or nearly half of UK adults are less happy
rising to 27% among 18-35 year olds. now than before the start of the pandemic.
63% 31%
of UK adults now say their work / life or nearly a third found working from home
balance is just right, improving on 2019. more stressful than the workplace while 34%
don’t have a suitable home working set-up.
36% 1 in 3
of those made redundant during the of the women who are less happy in 20/21
pandemic say they’re actually happier now. say have they suffered from anxiety.
52% 54%
of those who worked from home say they of those who worked from home say they
have more time for exercise and themselves. miss work culture.
44 minutes No Let-up
data suggests home working gifts back Covid-related fears (financial, health, further
three quarters of an hour of down time. lockdowns) dominate future worries list.
09Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Headlines
More Headlines - The Pandemic Pound
Despite Covid, spending Average monthly Spend comparison
habits remained largely Comparison by year
on-trend with previous years.
Take-out food 2018 £16.20
(including
Nowhere to go and no one to breakfast, lunch 2019 £15.80
see, yet spending in health and dinner)
2020/21 £18.80
and beauty - and clothes and
shoes - actually rose on 2019. Clothes / shoes 2018 £23.30
2019 £20.40
Spend on takeaway food,
2020/21 £21.00
and more surprisingly take
away teas and coffees, leapt Alcohol 2018 £21.50
to three-year-highs. 2019 £19.30
2020/21 £19.70
UK alcohol spend is consist-
Health and 2018 £11.90
ent with 2019 (despite hospi- beauty products
tality being closed for much 2019 £11.50
of the year). 2020/21 £13.20
Petrol / diesel 2018 £37.80
Buying / downloading digital
media remained on-trend 2019 £35.50
with previous years but TV 2020/21 £28.70
streaming-spend (Netflix etc)
Downloadable 2018 £5.50
shot up. music / film / TV
/ games 2019 £6.20
Online grocery shopping 2020/21 £7.00
doubled its market share, TV streaming 2018 £6.90
packing a decade of growth services
2019 £8.90
into a year (and unsettling
several major players). 2020/21 £13.30
Music streaming 2018 £3.90
With restrictions and travel services
2019 £5.40
discouraged, record-low road
2020/21 £6.10
usage translates in much less
spent at the pump. £0 £10 £20 £30 £40
10Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Health,
Wealth &
Happiness
Index
11Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Health, Wealth & Happiness Index
Introduction
When thinking about the past year, health, wealth, and happiness are not the
first words that come to mind for most. The health landscape has been
rocked by a global pandemic, with restriction measures bringing
unprecedented interference in the economic sphere. Meanwhile, from a social
perspective, such restrictions have placed a considerable toll on the
happiness of many. The new Health, Wealth, and Happiness Index seeks to
quantify changes in these variables over time and the extent to which they
have been affected over the course of the coronavirus crisis.
The Index takes into account a range of data sources, including publications
from the ONS, YouGov, and our own in-house modelling. In constructing the
Index, we have sought to include variables with a sufficiently long back
history which are also updated frequently, in order to allow for a
comprehensive and timely insight into the state of health, wealth, and
happiness across the country. The three subindices are averaged to produce
Nina Skero the headline Health, Wealth, and Happiness Index. This has given stark results
Chief Executive over the past year, including a record fall in Q2 2020, a partial recovery in Q3,
Cebr and subsequent dips in Q4 and into Q1 2021.
One of the most striking results from the study concerns the apparent
disconnect between the Wealth Index and the other two components in
recent quarters. While the Health and Happiness Indices both suffered falls in
line with each of the bouts of lockdown measures, the Wealth Index has
followed a different path. Following a tumble in Q2 2020 and a further dip in
Q3, the Wealth Index has since picked up in two consecutive quarters. Amidst
the disruption caused by rising coronavirus cases and associated lockdown
measures during the winter months, certain key aspects of the economy have
held firm. Much of this has been the result of considerable government
support, with the unemployment rate being kept in check by the furlough
scheme and the stamp duty holiday supporting house prices.
Going forward, the HWH Index will seek to provide an up-to-date estimate of
changes across each of the three subsections. In doing so, the Index will add
to the body of knowledge surrounding these three aspects that are so
pervasive in our day-to-day lives, all the while acknowledging the interactions
that exist between them. Such was the momentous, world-altering nature of
the coronavirus crisis, we do not expect future editions of the Index to yield
such large-scale variation. Nevertheless, the post-crisis recovery represents a
salient issue to monitor over the coming months and years, with impacts
anticipated across all three branches of health, wealth, and happiness.
12Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
The Health, Wealth & Happiness Index
The Health, Wealth & Happiness Index 20/21
The Health, Wealth and Happiness Index slumped But by Q4, with the arrival of winter, more infections,
to a reading of 71.6 in Q2 2020, a record low fuelled new virus strains and the return of lockdown we fell
by downturns in each of the three subindices. again - to 78.2 in Q4. A significant tumble but not as
sheer as Q2.
This drop represents a quarterly fall of 23%, far
outweighing the previous record drop of 5.4% in Q1 By Q1 2021, with higher death rates than during the
2018, when a particularly bad flu season hit and a first wave, further lockdowns and new strains of the
stock market slump impacted the Wealth Index. virus, the Health and Happiness indices fell again,
causing another drop in the overall Index to 74.3.
The Index partially recovered in Q3 2020, reaching
82.4 to coincide with the temporary flattening of Only the Wealth Index saw improvement in Q1 2021,
the curve of coronavirus infections and a tentative picking up by 3.3 points to 83.6. This was driven by
return to fuller economic and social activity. strong growth in both earnings and asset prices.
Health, Wealth and Happiness Index (2015=100)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q2 2020
Q4 2020
Q3 2020
Q1 2020
Q2 2012
Q2 2018
Q4 2012
Q2 2014
Q4 2018
Q2 2019
Q2 2015
Q4 2014
Q4 2019
Q4 2015
Q2 2016
Q4 2016
Q3 2012
Q2 2013
Q2 2017
Q3 2018
Q4 2013
Q3 2014
Q4 2017
Q3 2019
Q3 2015
Q3 2016
Q3 2013
Q3 2017
Q1 2012
Q1 2021
Q1 2018
Q4 2011
Q1 2014
Q1 2019
Q1 2015
Q1 2016
Q3 2011
Q1 2013
Q1 2017
Source: Cebr analysis
For full breakdown please see Appendix
13Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
HEalth
14Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Health
The Health Index
In Q2 2020, in the eye of the first wave of The impact of the pandemic on the UK’s death rate
coronavirus cases and an unprecedented is the key driver of the decline. Covid-19 had a
nationwide lockdown, the Health Index tumbled to tangible effect on excess deaths in the UK, not only
50.4 - its lowest level in the series. from the virus itself but because the health service
struggled to maintain business-as-usual activity.
The previous quarter it had stood at 88.4, so the
43.0% fall is the largest quarterly demise on show. By Q1 2021, the Health Index read 63.0, marking a
second consecutive quarterly fall on account of
The largest slump prior was between Q4 2017 and
more daily deaths than even during the first wave.
Q1 2018, when a particularly bad flu season drove a
The total number of deaths in January and
14.8% decline.
February 2021 were 29.4% and 34.7% higher,
The Health Index also suffered its largest ever respectively, than in the same months a year prior.
year-on-year fall in Q2 2020, down 49.4% on the
On this basis the Index would have fallen lower if it
same period in 2019. The previous record was 17.4%
weren’t for the excess deaths threshold changing
in Q1 2015 - a drop, once again, attributed to flu.
during the winter months.
Health Index (2015=100)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q3 2020
Q1 2020
Q3 2012
Q3 2018
Q3 2014
Q3 2019
Q3 2015
Q3 2016
Q3 2013
Q3 2017
Q1 2012
Q1 2021
Q1 2018
Q1 2014
Q1 2019
Q1 2015
Q1 2016
Q3 2011
Q1 2013
Q1 2017
Source: Cebr analysis
For full breakdown please see Appendix
15Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Health
Mental health
At a macro level it’s no revelation to report that the On each of these measures we saw respective
pandemic - and the measures taken in its name - all-time highs of 50%, 36%, 33%, and 24% in 2020.
took (and will continue to take) a significant toll on
Doubling down, the Office for National Statistics
mental health in the UK.
(ONS) reported that severe anxiety reached new
Weekly survey data published by YouGov points to levels during lockdowns. Before the pandemic, an
considerable spikes in the proportion of the UK average of 20.3% of the population reported high
population experiencing elevated feelings of stress, levels of anxiety. During the first week of the first
scaredness, sadness, and apathy during the lockdown, this shot to 50.0% and averaged 34.8%
pandemic. between then and the remainder of the year.
Percentage of UK adults reporting feelings of stress, sadness, fear & apathy (06.2019. - 12.2020.)
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
May 2020
May 2020
Aug 2020
Dec 2020
Dec 2020
Jun 2020
Sep 2020
Mar 2020
Mar 2020
Nov 2020
Jan 2020
Jan 2020
Feb 2020
Oct 2020
Oct 2020
Apr 2020
Dec 2019
Jun 2019
Sep 2019
Aug 2019
Aug 2019
Nov 2019
Jul 2020
Jul 2020
Oct 2019
Oct 2019
Jul 2019
Stressed
Scared
Sad
Apathetic
Source: YouGov
For full breakdown please see Appendix
16Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21
The positive spin
17Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Physical HEalth
31%
A lot of us (47%) say our
physical health hasn’t changed
since the start of the pandemic.
In fact, one in four (25%) say
we’ve either gotten “a little of full-time workers report better health now than
healthier” (19%) or “a lot pre pandemic
healthier” (6%).
33%
Nearly a third (31%) of full-time
workers report improved
physical health during the
pandemic. At 32%, better health
was even more prevalent for of furloughed workers say they feel fitter now than
parents of young (under 18) pre pandemic
children and a poll-topping 41%
of those aged 18-34.
Some 33% of those furloughed
during the Covid crisis say they
too feel healthier. Fitter now than pre pandemic
Comparison by income
In broad brushstrokes there’s
also a correlation between
income and better health. The
25% average
likelihood of feeling healthier
Up to £20,000 23%
takes a big leap north if you
earn over £50,000 per year. £20,001 - £30,000 23%
£30,001 - £40,000 27%
Over one in three (34%) in the
£40,001 - £50,000 26%
£70,000 - £80,000 per year
£50,001 - £60,000 31%
income bracket got healthier
during the pandemic, a similar £60,001 - £70,000 27%
rate to the very highest earners. £70,001 - £80,000 34%
£80,001 - £100,000 24%
£100,000 and above 33%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
18Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
XX
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Work/ Life Balance
Despite the wholesale shock of Work/ Life balance
Covid and more flux to working Comparison by year
patterns than seen in living
memory, the nation’s work/ life
balance has somehow
I work too much and would like more free time
improved, continuing its
2018 44%
already-positive trajectory.
2019 31%
Approaching two-thirds of us 20/21 29%
(63%) say we have our work/
life balance “just right” - up on My work/ life balance is just right
59% in 2019. 2018 51%
2019 59%
This revelation tells a more
20/21 63%
positive story than did Harvard
Business Review in February
I don’t work enough and have too much free time
2021.
2018 5%
The HBR article asserted that 2019 31%
Covid-era work burnout was 20/21 9%
affecting as many as 89%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
globally.
Exercised more than normal
during pandemic
25% average
People who lost jobs 35%
Public sector workers 34%
Footnote: Private sector workers 26%
https://hbr.org/2021/02/beyond-bur
ned-out 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
19Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Working from home wins
The positives in the work/ life balance stakes are Working MORE OR LESS?
even more surprising given that many of us have pandemic versus pre pandemic
actually worked longer days and more hours than Comparison by gender
usual.
Up to 5h more
When asked why people have worked more hours, male 16%
the two highest ranking answers were that work female 17%
had gotten busier (43%), and the would-be
The same
commute had become productive time (25%).
male 45%
Even with the additional load, and the unknowns of female 36%
the situation, a hefty 41% of us say was, at worst,
Up to 5h less
no more stressful than working at the workplace.
male 11%
And the older we are, the more likely we are to see female 11%
working from home as the less stressful of the two. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Despite the much-reported stress and burnout of
parents trying to juggle work and life responsibili-
Working MORE OR LESS?
ties, they’re among the biggest advocates for the
pandemic versus pre pandemic
stresslessness of working from home. Comparison by age
Up to 5h more
18-34 19%
35-54 17%
55+ 11%
Although the majority agree that The same
home-working is ‘as’ or ‘more’ efficient, 18-34 35%
it seems younger workers and women 35-54 42%
especially value having some separation
55+ 47%
between the two.
Up to 5h less
Emma Walker 18-34 11%
Chief Marketing Officer, LifeSearch
35-54 11%
55+ 9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
20Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Working from home wins
For those who could work from home, many had to Working from home is more stressful
rapidly establish brand new routines to
Male respondents:
accommodate home working and family duties.
30% Agree
For many, that also meant carving out physical
39% Disagree
space to work the job indefinitely in comfort. All
that in the context of an unprecedented health
Female respondents:
crisis and social restrictions.
31% Agree
It seems a recipe for stress yet, on the whole, the 42% Disagree
transition went well. First up, more people than
didn’t (41%) say their employers met the challenge
working from is more Effective
and supported workers adequately or well.
Children under 18
From the data, it seems employers in some Agree 33%
locations fared better than others. Disagree 18%
Now to effectiveness and more say they’re ‘as Children 18+
Agree 32%
effective’ or ‘more effective’ at their jobs from
home. In fact, the older we are the more we’re likely Disagree 21%
to say we carry out work more effectively from
No Children
home than the workplace. Agree 36%
Disagree 25%
A majority of parents, both of younger children and
adult children, say they’re as or more effective at 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
their jobs when working from home. Splice by
I have struggled to balance work with
income bracket and high earners are especially
home schooling / childcare duties
keen on the home-working option.
Agree
Interestingly, more people disagree than agree that male 32%
they struggled to balance out home working and female 26%
childcare duties. It also seems men struggled with it
Neutral
more than women. male 31%
female 36%
Disagree
male 37%
female 37%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
21Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Stress relief - a snapshot
Throughout the pandemic …
18% 31%
of men took to cooking and baking. of women read more books, as did nearly a
third (32%) of over 55s.
24% 13%
of the British population embraced DIY. in the East Midlands turned to podcasts.
34% 26%
of Londoners did more exercise. of Scots watched news less, as did 37% in
Northern Ireland.
15% 31%
of Bristolians embraced yoga and of people in Wales took to cooking and
meditation. baking.
9% 22%
of the high earners (100,000+p/y) sought of young people 18-34 cut back or stopped
professional counselling (average was 4%) using social media
22Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK HEalth 20/21
THe impact
23Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Mental health
You’ve read it everywhere, including in our data Mental health is worse than before
here, and it’s no surprise that we in the UK (like General Comparison
much of the rest of the world) have suffered great 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
damage to our mental health through Covid’s Male 32%
lockdowns, isolation, restrictions and our enforced
Aged 55+ 32%
separation from loved ones.
Working full time 37%
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) described Retired 31%
mental health as “one of the greatest casualties” of
Children aged under 18 33%
the pandemic, stating that “mental health in the UK
Lives with partner and children 34%
measures 8% lower than it would have without a
pandemic.” Private sector 36%
Financial / Banking 33%
Our data reflects that and more. When asked to
IT/Computing 21%
gauge their mental health now versus before the
pandemic, 39% of our respondents say it’s ‘worse’.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
But a look at the demographic splits and we see
Female 45%
some extremes.
Aged 18-34 48%
There are conclusions to be drawn from these Working part time 42%
mental health trends: there are those who suffered
Unemployed 53%
even poorer mental health (beyond the 39%
No children 47%
national average) and those for whom poor mental
health wasn’t as biting (i.e. below the 39% baseline). Lives with partner (no children) 43%
Third Sector 53%
Poor mental health, in general, hasn’t been as
Hospitality 46%
pronounced for parents and those with bigger
Healthcare 44%
families, or for those more likely to have a degree
of economic security and greater financial Wholesale & Retail 46%
freedom. 39% UK average
Compare those groups with the unemployed,
younger folks, those economically affected by the
pandemic, lower and part-time earners and those
less likely to live in fuller households.
Footnote:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-global-happiness-ranking-mental-health-covid-pandemic-b925069.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2272006-pandemics-damage-to-uk-education-and-mental-health-will-last-a-decade/#ixzz6qUZ0KlVX
24Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Women’s Mental health
When it comes to mental health, Feelings and fears Comparison
the struggle for women - all Comparison by gender
across the piste - appears to have
been far greater than for men.
No concerns Male 30%
If we take the two major groups Female 25%
more affected by poor mental
health, 18-34s and women, it Feeling lonely Male 40%
and isolated*
throws up questions as yet
Female 41%
unanswered. At least satisfactorily.
Hard to switch Male 35%
In 18-34s - certainly at the off from work*
Female 41%
younger end - we can assume
there’s less financial security, Feeling isolated Male 50%
from colleagues*
more career insecurity and they’re Female 59%
less likely to have a circle of loved
ones in immediate proximity. Fear of rising Male 22%
bills
Female 28%
At an arbitrary level it’s a lot
easier to explain the negative Fear of new tax Male 19%
introductions by
experience for youngsters than it the government Female 20%
is women.
Lack of savings Male 15%
Obviously our data is general. Few
Female 23%
have had it easy. In March 2021, to
coincide with a year of lockdown, Fear of job Male 10%
redundancy /
the British Academy compiled job loss Female 12%
more than 500 pieces of evidence
Having too much Male 9%
to review the impact of the debt
pandemic on the UK’s mental Female 11%
health.
Fear of not Male 9%
getting a job
The paper predicted that Covid Female 10%
will cast “a decade-long shadow”
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
on our mental health, and that
things may get worse before they
get better. * those who worked from home during the pandemic
25Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Comfort eating
On the surface, it’s not a slam Turned to comfort eating during pandemic
dunk to state that comfort Comparison by region
eating is detrimental to physical
health. Comfort eating is
relative, and there’s a big 30% - 33%
difference between extra National average - 36%
34% - 37%
kebabs and extra quinoa.
38% -41%
Our consumer survey hadn’t 42% - 45%
scope to be this specific. 46% - 50%
51% - 54%
So while the term can’t infer Scotland
35%
poorer physical health, we can
be somewhat certain that by
defining it ‘comfort eating’,
respondents have chosen to link
it to their mental wellbeing.
Northern Ireland North east
37% england
53%
yorkshire and
humberside
north west 40%
ONS data from late 2020 england
found that, at the 32%
beginning of the first
east
lockdown, women spent midlands
55% more time than men west 37%
on unpaid childcare. By wales
midlands
30%
October, women spent 36% east of england
38%
99% more time than men
on unpaid childcare.
grEater london
Emma Walker 35%
Chief Marketing Officer, LifeSearch south west england
36% south east england
35%
26Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Alcohol
There are different ways to drank more Alcohol during pandemic
appraise the nation’s drinking Comparison by region
habits in the pandemic era.
Look back at this report’s 16% - 19%
headlines and our alcohol spend National average - 21%
20% - 23%
is very similar this year to last.
24% -27%
With only that data we can infer
that the UK mostly kept a lid on 28% - 31%
our drinking. 32% - 35%
But remember that hospitality Scotland
22%
venues were shuttered for much
of the year - opportunities to
drink socially were few and far
between.
Also, it’s a lot less expensive to Northern Ireland North east
england
buy alcohol in a shop than in a 19%
33%
pub or club.
yorkshire and
With that, spend data alone humberside
north west 22%
perhaps masks the extent to england
which the UK has used booze as 21%
a crutch during dark times.
east
midlands
west 18%
This data paints a more vivid midlands
wales
and perhaps more realistic 23%
18%
east of england
picture; in showing that one in 22%
five increased their alcohol
consumption nationwide, rising grEater london
21%
to one in three in the North East. south west england
20% south east england
20%
27Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Self Care
When asked if people feel more or less healthy, Less healthy now than before pandemic
Comparison by gender
specifically in relation to diet, now or before the
pandemic, the national average showed that 29% Average 29%
of people say ‘less’.
Female 32%
Once again there’s a huge gender gap here: one in Male 25%
four men (25%) feel they’ve let their diet slip, but 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
that rises to nearly one in three women (32%).
We see a similar gulf between those who live in a Turned to comfort eating during pandemic
Comparisons by gender and age
more nuclear family set-up versus those who live
Average 36%
alone. One in four people (25%) who live with a
partner and child/ children said their diet suffered Female 43%
during the pandemic, but this rises significantly to Male 29%
over one in three (34%) for those who live alone.
18-34 year olds 49%
In fact, across the board, Brits who live with at least 35-54 year olds 37%
one other person have maintained healthier eating 55+ 26%
habits than single occupants.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
This marries with our data on comfort eating.
Some 43% of women and 49% of 18-34s said they
turned to comfort eating versus a national average
of 36%.
Further data shows that certain key groups report
being less physically fit now than before the
pandemic: older age groups and, once again,
women.
Another correlation pops up with salary. It seems
higher earners stayed on top of their physical
fitness more so than lower earners.
28Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Health 20/21 - The Impact
Parents AND THE PANDEMIC
The much-reported burnout for parents is hard to Used more alcohol during
find in the data. At least in the general data. the pandemic
While we can see that parents (of younger kids)
were much more likely than the national average
to seek counselling through the pandemic, they Children aged under 18 27%
were much likely than average to report feeling
Children aged over 18+ 14%
financially better off than before the pandemic.
No Children 24%
Over one in three (35%) parents of younger kids 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
say they’re financially better off now compared to
27% and 26% of parents of older kids and
non-parents respectively. Turned to comfort
eating
Parents of younger children were also more likely
to have paid off debt than other parent status Children aged under 18 38%
groups (12% versus 9% average). They were more
Children aged over 18+ 28%
likely to have drawn up a budget (12% versus 8%
No Children 42%
average), source help from a financial adviser (5%
versus 3% average), review existing insurance 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
policies (8% versus 5%), and investigate both
critical illness insurance (6% versus 2%) and life
insurance (9% versus 4%). Pandemic IMPACTS on parents with young
children
However, of the three parent status groups,
parents of young kids were less likely to have Saved money during the pandemic
UK average 24%
saved money during the pandemic (21% versus
24% average) and more likely to have delayed a Children under 18 21%
big ticket purchase (10% versus 7% average) or
Delayed big ticket purchases
remortgaged (3% versus 1% average). UK average 7%
They were also more likely to turn to alcohol and Children under 18 10%
comfort eating than parents of older children but Remortgaged
once again non-parents were right up there with UK average 1%
them.
Children under 18 3%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
29Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Wealth
30Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Wealth
The Wealth Index
Although government support measures, notably Although it looks like the labour market has
the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), remained resilient, the furlough scheme has
have been pivotal to protecting livelihoods essentially ‘frozen’ it.
throughout the pandemic, there has still been a
The termination of the furlough scheme (currently
considerable impact across earnings and wealth.
scheduled for the end of September) remains a
From Q2 2019 to Q2 2020 the Index fell 22.3%. major threat to households’ livelihoods as you’ll read
Although the floor is not an all-time-low - as we’ve in the Future Threats section later.
seen in the other indices - it is by far the biggest
By September, while much economic activity may
slide in the history of the series.
have returned on account of looser restrictions - we
By Q1 2021, the Wealth Index stands out as the only are due to see an uptick in the unemployment rate.
channel to witness an increase. A second
Cebr forecasts point to a peak rate of 5.9%,
consecutive increase in fact.
occurring in Q4. If so, this will put downward
However, Q1’s 3.3 point rise to 83.6 is still 17.6% pressure on the Index later this year.
below the pre-pandemic value from Q4 2019.
Wealth Index (2015=100)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q3 2020
Q1 2020
Q3 2012
Q3 2018
Q3 2014
Q3 2019
Q3 2015
Q3 2016
Q3 2013
Q3 2017
Q1 2012
Q1 2021
Q1 2018
Q1 2014
Q1 2019
Q1 2015
Q1 2016
Q3 2011
Q1 2013
Q1 2017
Source: Cebr analysis
For full breakdown please see Appendix
31Health Wealth & Happiness Report 2021 XX
UK Wealth 20/21
The positive spin
32Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Better off?
Despite financial darkness for Financially better off Now than pre pandemic
many through 2020, there was Comparison by region
also some light.
Nearly three in ten (29%) say
21%-24%
they feel better off now than
before the pandemic. 25%-28%
National average - 27%
29%-32%
And while these have been
33%-36%
trying times for many in the
18-34 age group, more than a
37%-40%
third (34%) say they’re in better
Scotland
financial shape now than pre
28%
Covid.
Northern Ireland North east
35% england
32%
yorkshire and
humberside
north west 32%
The pandemic experience england
for UK peoples of 30%
different ethnic heritage
east
was perhaps even more midlands
extreme. Scan the QR west 28%
code on the back of this wales
midlands
22%
report or go to 34% east of england
27%
lifesearch.com/hwh for a
more detailed look
grEater london
30%
Emma Walker south west england
Chief Marketing Officer, LifeSearch 25% south east england
28%
33Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin
As you were
Following on from those who Rate your / your household’s financial state since the
are better off, nearly half of us start of pandemic
(47%), say our financial status Comparison by gender
hasn’t changed since the start
of the pandemic. much better male 6%
off
female 5%
Further data confirms this with
44% saying they haven’t felt the a little better male 25%
off
need to alter spending habits, or female 22%
take proactive or protective
no different male 49%
financial measures during or as
a result of the crisis. female 45%
Seeing no change in financial 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
position correlates with age: the
older one is the less the likeli-
hood of them having changed
spending patterns or financial Rate your / your household’s financial state since the
behaviour during the pandemic. start of pandemic
Comparison by age
much better 18-34 8%
off
35-54 5%
55+ 4%
a little better 18-34 26%
off
35-54 23%
55+ 22%
no different 18-34 40%
35-54 46%
55+ 53%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
34Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Savings and Change
Nearly one in four of us (24%) say we saved more
money during the pandemic, rising to nearly one in
three (31%) of 18-34 year olds.
24% saved more money than
All but workers in the lowest two income brackets
(less than £30,000 per year) saved more cash usual during pandemic
above the national average.
By income bracket, those who earn between
£40,000 and £60,000 were most likely to have
saved more than they otherwise would have.
In the previous page, we learned that 44% of
people didn’t feel the need to alter their financial
behaviour during or as a result of the pandemic.
That leaves 56% who did but there are positives
within that too.
31% of UK 18-34 year olds say
they saved more money
than usual during the
pandemic
Nearly one in ten (9%) of us say we paid down
more debt during Covid than we otherwise would
have, rising to 11% of 18-34 year olds.
This one proactive financial move outmuscles two
reactive financial moves combined: the 7% who say
they put off buying big-ticket items and the 1% who
remortgaged their homes.
1/10 say they paid down more
debt than usual during
the pandemic.
This rises to 11% of 18-34
The extent of younger folks’ financial year olds
gains during Covid are a welcome
surprised, but the September end of the
furlough scheme could set progress
back significantly.
Emma Walker
Chief Marketing Officer, LifeSearch
35Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin
saved more money than usual during pandemic
Comparison by region
16%-18%
19%-21%
22%-24% UK average - 24%
25%-27%
28%-30%
Scotland
31%-33% 22%
Northern Ireland North east
29% england
23%
yorkshire and humber-
side
north west 27%
england
24%
east
midlands
west 27%
midlands
wales
17%
23% east of england
24%
grEater london
25%
south west england
24% south east england
22%
36Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Positive Spin
financially better off Now versus pre pandemic
Comparison by Income
“much better off” Up to £20,000 4%
£20,001 - £30,000 5%
£30,001 - £40,000 6%
£40,001 - £50,000 5%
£50,001 - £60,000 7%
£60,001 - £70,000 8%
£70,001 - £80,000 7%
£80,001 - £100,000 10%
£100,000 and above 6%
“a little better off” Up to £20,000 17%
£20,001 - £30,000 22%
£30,001 - £40,000 28%
£40,001 - £50,000 33%
£50,001 - £60,000 33%
£60,001 - £70,000 28%
£70,001 - £80,000 35%
£80,001 - £100,000 24%
£100,000 and above 35%
“no different” Up to £20,000 48%
£20,001 - £30,000 48%
£30,001 - £40,000 45%
£40,001 - £50,000 45%
£50,001 - £60,000 41%
£60,001 - £70,000 45%
£70,001 - £80,000 40%
£80,001 - £100,000 48%
£100,000 and above 34%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
37Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK WEalth 20/21
THe impact
38Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Impact
Beyond furlough
LifeSearch survey data exactly correlates with the Cities with highest furlough rates
official tally - that 16% of UK workers were 16% UK average
furloughed during 2020. In numbers, by January Plymouth 23%
2021, that meant well over 11 million workers. Manchester 22%
Brighton 19%
Furlough rates were highest in the youngest
Sheffield 19%
portion of the workforce, 18-34 year olds, who were
also most affected by job losses, redundancies and Bristol 18%
reduced hours. London 18%
0% 10% 20% 30%
All in, over one in three (34%) people in the UK had
their careers negatively impacted as a result of the
pandemic. One in five (17%) say their hours and/ or Negative job experiences during pandemic
Comparison by age
pay were reduced but this average reflects that
Lost Job (3% average)
fact that 18-34s and 35-54s were more heavily hit
18-34 year olds 6%
(at 22%) than employees aged 55-and-over.
35 - 54 year olds 4%
A further 6% say they lost a job or were made 55+ year olds 1%
redundant and this again ties with the UK unem-
Made redundant (3% average)
ployment rate from November 2020 through
18-34 year olds 4%
January 2021.
35 - 54 year olds 5%
By salary, workers who earn between £40,000 and 55+ year olds 1%
£60,000 show the highest furlough ratio, but a
Put on furlough (16% average)
considerable 9% of those who earn £100,000 per 18-34 year olds 26%
year were also furloughed.
35 - 54 year olds 19%
55+ year olds 7%
On the next page you’ll see a snapshot of negative
job implications by sector.
Reduced hours (11% average)
18-34 year olds 16%
35 - 54 year olds 14%
55+ year olds 6%
0 10% 20% 30%
Footnote:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56198359
39Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Impact
Employee Impact by industry
Hospitality & Leisure Food & Drinks industry
Furloughed 65% Furloughed 49%
Lost job 4% Lost job 0%
Made redundant 5% Made redundant 5%
Reduced hours 28% Reduced hours 30%
Reduced pay 19% Reduced pay 22%
No change 13% No change 20%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Retail Construction
Furloughed 34% Furloughed 33%
Lost job 2% Lost job 6%
Made redundant 2% Made redundant 6%
Reduced hours 17% Reduced hours 15%
Reduced pay 11% Reduced pay 27%
No change 46% No change 32%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Financial services/ banking IT/ Computing
Furloughed 5% Furloughed 13%
Lost job 4% Lost job 2%
Made redundant 1% Made redundant 8%
Reduced hours 14% Reduced hours 22%
Reduced pay 14% Reduced pay 23%
No change 67% No change 48%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Healthcare Education
Furloughed 14% Furloughed 15%
Lost job 3% Lost job 2%
Made redundant 3% Made redundant 3%
Reduced hours 15% Reduced hours 17%
Reduced pay 9% Reduced pay 9%
No change 69% No change 61%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
40Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Impact
Worse off
The national average of people who felt ‘worse off’ Worse off
financially as a result of the pandemic was just shy Comparison by age
of one in four - or 24% - but once again some Age: 18-34
extremes are at play.
No difference 40%
In the ‘higher’ social group ABC1, more than one in A little worse off 16%
three (34%) say they’re ‘a little’ or ‘much better’ off A lot worse off 10%
now than pre pandemic. Conversely, in the ‘lower’
Age: 35-54
socio-economic grouping C2DE, people are much
more likely to be ‘a little’ worse off (17%). Or for No difference 46%
more than one in ten (11%) - ‘much’ worse off. A little worse off 17%
A lot worse off 10%
Out of those 18-34 year olds who report being less
happy this year than pre pandemic, ‘unstable Age: 55+
finances’ was the kicker for over one in four (27%). No difference 53%
Just one in ten (10%) over 55s attribute their loss of
A little worse off 14%
happiness to ‘unstable finances’.
A lot worse off 7%
In the adjacent chapter spinning positives on 0 20% 40% 60%
people’s wealth, we mentioned those who paid
debt and saved money.
Inevitably, this hasn’t been the case for everyone.
The national average for those who say they’ve Reviewed spending during
saved more money during the pandemic is 24%. pandemic
And despite far fewer spending opportunities, the
two lowest income brackets fell short, with just 18%
UK Average 21%
of those earning less than £20,000 and 19% of
Women 24%
those earning between £20,000 and £30,000
18-34 year olds 27%
saying they were able to save more.
Third Sector Workers 32%
For those 18-34 year olds who worked more during Furloughed workers 32%
the pandemic, over a quarter (26%) said they did
Hospitality workers 39%
so because they needed extra cash, while 17% say
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
it was to ensure job safety. In both cases this is
more than older age groups.
41Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Wealth 20/21 - The Impact
Spending review
Nationally, one in five (21%) Brits report that they worse off
reviewed their spending habits during the pandem- Comparison by employment status
ic. Once again this was more prominent for women
(24%) and higher still for 18-34 year olds (27%). Works full time
No difference 43%
On its face we can’t describe one reviewing their A little worse off 15%
spending as inherently negative, but it’s telling that A lot worse off 7%
part-time workers and the unemployed reviewed
their expenditure at higher-than-average levels Works part time
(29% in each category). Also, nearly one in three No difference 41%
(32%) third sector (charity) workers reviewed their
A little worse off 22%
spending, the same percentage as for furloughed
A lot worse off 13%
workers, rising to 39% of hospitality workers.
Retired
Interestingly, when dissected strictly by salary
No difference 57%
bracket, there was little difference from low earners
A little worse off 11%
to high for those who reviewed their spending, put
off big ticket purchases, or remortgaged. A lot worse off 3%
One key difference when split by salary, however, Unemployed
is that higher earners were more likely to explore No difference 46%
what we might perhaps define as progressive A little worse off 17%
financial behaviours. A lot worse off 25%
0 20% 40% 60%
People earning £40,000 per year or more were
considerably more likely to change where and how
they save money; review their existing insurance
products; consult financial planners; draw up new
budgets and explore new insurance / protection
options.
42Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Happiness
43Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Happiness
The happiness Index
Like the Health and Wealth indices, the Happiness There is a clear and obvious correlation between the
Index too suffered dramatic drops throughout 2020. implementation of lockdown measures and falling
levels of happiness. ONS personal wellbeing data
With unprecedented uncertainty and restrictions
points to a noticeable decline in individuals’ own
unparalleled in living memory, the Happiness Index
assessments of their life satisfaction and happiness,
fell 9.5% between Q1 and Q2 2020, reaching a then
coupled with a rise in apathy.
record low of 84.8.
Ranking one’s life satisfaction on a scale of 1-10 - with 1
This is the largest percentage drop in the history of
representing least satisfied and 10 most satisfied - the
the series, with the previous record a 5.9% drop in Q4
pre-Covid quarterly average stood at 7.6. In Q2, 2020,
2019. This dip came during a fraught General Election
this measure fell to just 7.0, setting a then record low.
campaign and instability over the mechanics of Brexit.
In January and February 2021, life satisfaction levels hit
In Q4 2020 came another 9.3% drop and the country
considerable lows with 57% of the population saying
hit a new record low reading of 78.5. By Q1 2021, we hit
that their wellbeing is being affected by Covid-19.
a new low of 76.4 - 17.3 points lower than in the same
quarter in 2020 and an annual fall of 18.5%. This is actually the highest percentage since the
pandemic began.
the Happiness Index (2015=100)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q3 2020
Q1 2020
Q3 2012
Q3 2018
Q3 2014
Q3 2019
Q3 2015
Q3 2016
Q3 2013
Q3 2017
Q1 2012
Q1 2021
Q1 2018
Q1 2014
Q1 2019
Q1 2015
Q1 2016
Q3 2011
Q1 2013
Q1 2017
Source: Cebr analysis
For full breakdown please see Appendix
44Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
Happiness
The happiness Index
Individuals’ estimates of their own happiness have With the return of more freedoms to move and
reached new lows during the pandemic. socialise, the prevalence of feelings such as sadness,
apathy, boredom, and loneliness naturally reversed.
Sentiment data from YouGov shows that the
proportion of the UK population reporting feelings of But the improvement in the Happiness Index was short
happiness averaged just 39.8% during Q2 2020, lived. By early Q4, the implementation of new measures
considerably down from the 44.5% reported in the to slow the spread of coronavirus triggered more
previous quarter. Conversely, there were significant restrictions, starting with localised lockdowns in regions,
upticks in feelings of frustration (42% average) and and in cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.
boredom (35.7% average) throughout Q2.
The emergence of new strains of Covid-19 soon led to
Further ONS data suggests that nearly one in five further restrictions and ultimately national lockdowns in
(19.2%) adults were experiencing some form of all four nations by November.
depression amidst the initial UK lockdown - double the
nearly one in ten (9.2%) prior to the pandemic. Once again this knocked the indicators composing the
Happiness Index and loneliness increased to an even
The slight uptick in the Happiness Index between Q2 higher level than in Q2 - 19.2% versus 18.8%. These
and Q3, to 86.5 coincided with the lifting of restrictions factors combined pushed the Index to its record low -
and reopening of the economy over late summer. 78.5 in Q4 and, as you’ve read, further still to 76.4 in Q1
2021.
UK adults reporting feelings of Happiness, Boredom, Loneliness
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
May 2020
May 2020
Aug 2020
Dec 2020
Dec 2020
Jun 2020
Sep 2020
Mar 2020
Mar 2020
Jan 2020
Jan 2020
Nov 2020
Feb 2020
Oct 2020
Oct 2020
Apr 2020
Dec 2019
Jun 2019
Sep 2019
Aug 2019
Aug 2019
Nov 2019
Jul 2020
Jul 2020
Oct 2019
Oct 2019
Jul 2019
Happiness
Source: YouGov
Boredom
Loneliness
For full breakdown please see Appendix
45Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21
The positive spin
46Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21 - The Positive Spin
Happiness
Catastrophe and uncertainty. What makes you most happy
A global pandemic and an 2020/21 versus 2019
overhaul of life as we know it.
Spending time 2019 55%
While it sounds like the kind of with family /
friends 2020/21 56%
backdrop that’d force a change
in our happiness priorities, it Having time to 2019
myself
30%
largely did not.
2020/21 29%
Answers to the question ‘what Travelling 2019 27%
makes you happiest’ from 20/21 2020/21 31%
reflect those of 2019. The very
Saving / not being 2019 20%
subtle differences between the in debt
two years are understandable, 2020/21 21%
given Covid’s sweeping impact. Keeping fit and
healthy
2019 18%
In broad brushstrokes, the same 2020/21 22%
three things still make us happi- Having good work 2019
/ life balance
18%
est: ‘spending time with friends
2020/21 21%
and family’, ‘travelling’ and
‘having time to myself’. Spending time 2019 17%
with pets
2020/21 19%
Only ‘Travelling’ has risen - to
Looking after 2019 7%
replace ‘having time to myself’ - others
and this time around the desire 2020/21 6%
to travel is much more Building up
savings / invest-
2019 6%
pronounced for women than
ments 2020/21 8%
men, and for over 55s than
younger age groups. Spending money 2019
on luxuries
5%
2020/21 6%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
47Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21 - The Positive Spin
small shifts
Nuanced changes to what What makes you most happy
makes us happy include more Comparison by gender
men and more young people
Spending time Male 48%
chasing financial security via with family /
friends Female 64%
savings and investments.
Having time to Male 28%
myself
Younger people (18-34) are more
Female 30%
likely to glean happiness in
caring for others than they were Travelling Male 29%
in 2019. Female 33%
Saving / not being Male 20%
Women are more likely now in debt
than they were in 2019 to find Female 23%
happiness in spending time with Keeping fit and
healthy
Male 23%
pets.
Female 20%
There’s more emphasis on Having good work Male
/ life balance
21%
keeping fit and healthy this time
Female 21%
around, particularly for men and
the over 55s. Spending time Male 15%
with pets
Female 23%
And interestingly, 35-54 year
Looking after Male 5%
olds are twice as likely as they others
were in 2019 to look for happi- Female 8%
ness in luxury items. Building up
savings / invest-
Male 11%
ments Female 6%
Spending money Male 6%
on luxuries
Female 6%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
48Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21 - The Positive Spin
are we … happier?
1 in 4
Against all odds, large chunks of the UK population
do report being happier now than before the
pandemic began. The Health, Wealth and
Happiness Index suggests that workers, on 18-34 year olds say they’re ‘a little’
average, have clawed back an extra 44 minutes of or ‘much’ happier than they were
down time per day - so there is that. prior to March 2020.
And although the social and financial damage
1 in 3
caused by Covid has hit younger people hard, over
one in four (27%) 18-34 year olds say they’re
actually ‘a little’ or ‘much’ happier than they were
prior to March 2020.
or 36% of those made redundant
There‘s small geographic discrepancies too. Around are ‘a little’ or ‘much’ happier now
one in five residents in the south of England
than pre pandemic
(London 22%, the South East 19% and the South
West 19%) say their happiness has increased.
Top-5 Things that make us happiest (2020)
Residents in Scotland (45%) and Northern Ireland
(57%) are most likely to report no change in their Time with family / friends 56%
happiness status, positive or negative. Travelling 31%
Time to myself 29%
Similarly, general happiness has increased for over
one in five (23%) full time workers, including one in Freedom to go places 28%
four who work in the public sector (25%). Nearly a Keeping fit & Healthy 22%
quarter (24%) of parents who have young kids 0% 20% 40% 60%
report being happier now than pre pandemic.
The stat of the piece, however, is that over one
third - a substantial 36% - of people who were
made redundant as a consequence of the
pandemic say they’re ‘a little’ or ‘much’ happier
now than before.
Similarly, around one in four who were furloughed
(24%), had hours reduced (24%), or pay reduced
(23%) are ‘a little’ or ‘much’ happier now.
49Health, Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21 - The Positive Spin
happiness comparison - 2020/21 versus 2019
Comparison by Income
Much happier than Up to £20,000 6%
in 2019
£20,001 - £30,000 4%
£30,001 - £40,000 4%
£40,001 - £50,000 5%
£50,001 - £60,000 5%
£60,001 - £70,000 1%
£70,001 - £80,000 7%
£80,001 - £100,000 6%
£100,000 and above 13%
A little happier Up to £20,000 10%
than in 2019
£20,001 - £30,000 10%
£30,001 - £40,000 11%
£40,001 - £50,000 15%
£50,001 - £60,000 16%
£60,001 - £70,000 20%
£70,001 - £80,000 12%
£80,001 - £100,000 15%
£100,000 and above 13%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
50Health Wealth & Happiness Report 20/21
UK Happiness 20/21
The Impact
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