While the pandemic had many US workers joining the remote workforce, many workers could not work remotely.
To complicate matters, some jobs make socially distancing at work highly difficult and put you into contact with a wide range of people.
Using data from a new study from UCSF’s Institute for Global Health Sciences, we highlighted the jobs with the biggest increase in excess deaths year over year.
The results? Essential workers were the heralded heroes of the pandemic as they continued to get the job done. However, many did so at great personal risk.
Interesting Findings
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Cooks had the highest increase in excess deaths during the pandemic, with a mortality risk increase of 60%.
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The average salary for a cook is only $27,996, well below the median US income of $35,977.
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Cooks are not an exception– the majority of jobs that experienced the brunt of Covid deaths are low paying.
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Unsurprisingly, LPNS, on the frontline of the pandemic, experienced increased death rates of over 40%.
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Jobs known for crowded conditions such as agricultural workers (39%) and transportation and logistics workers (28%) experienced some of the highest increases in excess deaths.
Methodology
USCF examined the excess death rate for Californians 18–65 years of age, by occupational sector and occupation. They looked at the time period March through October 2020.
As of 2023, we’ve also examined numbers across the US between 2020-2021. It’s important to note that these numbers can be variable across different states according to the effects of state laws, the commonality of particular industries, and other factors.
The Lowest Paid Workers Paid The Price
Many of the jobs with the highest Covid death rates are difficult if not impossible to perform remotely.
While it was generally expected essential workers, particularly those on the lower rungs, would face higher death rates from Covid. This study confirms they experienced great personal risk for society to continue to function.
However, in light of news reports of companies failing to establish or enforce safety protocols, it does raise the question: Could some of these deaths have been avoided?
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
