Racial Disparity in Potential Occupational Exposure to COVID-19

Abstract

Background Nationwide, as of 20 June 2021, COVID-19 has claimed more than 599,000 lives and infected nearly 33 million people. Studies have shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affects some racial and ethnic minority groups. This study examined whether certain racial and ethnic groups were overrepresented in occupations with potentially high COVID-19 exposure risks, relative to their share in the total workforce. The study incorporates white collar workers, who to date have not gotten as much attention in terms of workers safety. Methods Using the March and April 2020 Current Population Survey and O*Net data, this study examined whether certain racial and ethnic groups were overrepresented in occupations with potentially high risk of exposure to COVID-19 (exposure to disease and infection at work, inability to maintain physical distancing at work, and inability to work from home) relative to their share in the total workforce. Results The results showed that Black workers were overrepresented in occupations with high potential risk of exposure to disease and infection at work and inability to maintain physical distancing at work. Hispanic workers were overrepresented in occupations where potential risk of inability to work from home was the highest. Conclusion Occupation can be one of the risk factors for the current disproportionately high COVID-19 infection rates among Black and Hispanic workers. COVID-19-related prevention measures at high risk occupations, including providing adequate personal protective equipment, training, working space, and vaccinations, could help to reduce not only the spread of COVID-19 and infectious diseases but also their disproportionately high impact in certain minority racial and ethnic groups. Keywords COVID-19 risk . Occupational risk . Racial disparity in occupational risk BackgroundAs of 20 June 2021, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has claimed more than 599,000 lives and infected nearly 33 million people in the USA [1]. COVID-19 disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic minority groups. Up to 7 March 2021-the last date The COVID Racial Data Tracker stopped collecting racial data-COVID-19-related mortality rates were 178, 172, and 154 per 100,000 population for Blacks, American Indian or Alaska Natives, and Hispanics, respectively, compared to 124 and 95 per 100,000 population for Whites and Asians, respectively [2]. In Chicago, although Blacks constitute only 30% of the population, nearly 52% of

Close physical proximity on the job—An exposure matrix

“…In their assessment of the early impacts on US industry employment, Gabe and Florida found occupations requiring close physical proximity and the most interaction with members of the public likely experienced employment declines during the first few months of the pandemic 19 . More recently, Asfaw found Black workers overrepresented within those occupations working close to one another and Hispanic workers lacking the ability to work from home using O*NET and 2020 US CPS employment data 20 . Employment changes were evident and variable during the pandemic.…”

“…19 More recently, Asfaw found Black workers overrepresented within those occupations working close to one another and Hispanic workers lacking the ability to work from home using O*NET and 2020 US CPS employment data. 20 Employment changes were evident and variable during the pandemic.…”

Characterization of demographic data, clinical signs, comorbidities, and outcomes according to the race in hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 in Brazil: An observational study

“…Unfortunately, individuals from minority groups with lower job security and low-income experienced job loss [ 60 , 61 ], which might have led them to pursue informal jobs with enhanced exposure risk to COVID-19. Also, those who did not lose their job appear to fill jobs with a higher risk of COVID-19 contagion and exposure, with an inability to work from home, which also jeopardizes them [ 62 , 63 ].…”

COVID-19-Specific Mortality among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees Who Resided in New York City

“…Previous studies reported that differential occupational exposure is one main contributing factor to racial disparity in COVID-19 associated outcomes [ 46 , 47 ]. Non-Hispanic Black residents, in addition to living in already resource-deprived neighborhoods, are more likely to work in industries that are not amenable to remote working, have less ability to physically distance themselves from others in the workplace, and have more frequent exposure to infections while at work compared to other racial groups [ 46 , 47 ].…”