Abstract: In this paper we look at how educational and labour market activities for young people in England are affected by the Great Recession. Within the same local authority, we compare cohorts of students that were affected by the recession in terms of their post-16 activities with those who were plausibly not affected. We provide some evidence that students adapt their contemporaneous activities. The preliminary results also suggest some evidence consistent with these activities leading to higher achievement in post-secondary school but not to higher enrolment in university.