Essential Worker Characteristics (n=101,188,748)

Table 1. 

Household Characteristics (n = 1 410 976)

Table 2. 

- 8/21 ACS industry codes accounted for 73% essential workers
- Healthcare was the greatest industry proportion of essential workers (15%)
- Essential workers estimated to make up 40% of the US
- Essential worker demographics:
          - 46% female
          - 14% black
          - 17% Hispanic or Latino
          - 11% uninsured
          - 8% 65+ years old
- Essential worker household demographics:
          - 25% had low household income
          - 18% lived with at least one uninsured person
          - 18% lived with at least one person 65+


University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The definition of an “essential worker” was established as someone society requires to continue with their job duties as normal; however, the workers are often not compensated for their additional risks of contracting COVID-19. This study estimates the proportion of essential workers and discusses their economic vulnerabilities through identifying risk factors. 

48% of essential workers were found to live with at least one of the three risks and 13% were categorized as living in high-risk households.

Economic Vulnerability of Households With Essential Workers

McCormack, G., Avery, C., Spitzer, A., et al. Economic Vulnerability of Households With Essential Workers. JAMA. Published online June 18, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11366

Household data were analyzed from the Public Use Microdata Sample of the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). Information from 101,188,748 estimated essential workers were matched by industry and subindustry codes to the occupational codes outlined in the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” advisory list released in March 2020. They assessed 3 categories for economic status: low income (<$40,000), uninsurance (at least one member uninsured), and age (at least one member 65+ years old). 

Economic Vulnerability of Households With Essential Workers: Methods

Economic Vulnerability of Households With Essential Workers: Results

40% of the US adult population were determined to be essential workers under the COVID-19 definition as established by the CISA. 48% of essential workers were found to live with at least one of the three risks and 13% were categorized as living in high-risk households. The authors argue for additional cost-benefit analyses for essential workers and policy implementation that considers the heightened economic vulnerability risks for these workers (e.g. stimulus, healthcare coverage, priority testing).

Limitations
- Definition of high risk may not be universal across other studies or accurately define true risk
- Risk may not be equivalent across essential worker jobs


Learn Before

Related

Learn After