Occupations and Sickness-Related Absences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Pandemic frontline occupations consist of disproportionately low socioeconomic status and racial minority workers. Documenting occupational health disparities is therefore crucial for understanding COVID-19-related health inequalities in the United States. This study uses Current Population Survey microdata to estimate occupational differences in sickness-related absences (SAs) from work in March through June 2020 and their contribution to educational, racial-ethnic, and nativity health disparities. We find that there has been an unprecedented rise in SAs concentrated in transportation, food-related, and personal care and service occupations. SA rates were 6 times higher in these occupations than in non-health-care professions. The greatest increases were in occupations that are unsuitable for remote work, require workers to work close to others, pay low wages, and rarely provide health insurance. Workers in these occupations are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and immigrants. Occupation contributes 41% of the total of Black/white differences and 54% of educational differences in SAs.

Keywords: COVID-19; occupation; occupational health; sickness absences; socioeconomic disparities; structural racism.

Figure 1.. Pathways from Occupation to Sickness-Related Absences during COVID-19

Figure 2.. Sickness-Related Absences March–June Since 2005

Note: Data: Current Population Survey, March–June 2005–2020; N (overall) = 2,811,676; N (pre-existing mandate) = 858,261.

Figure 3.. Sickness Absences by Occupation March–June 2020.

Note: Data: Current Population Survey; N (Panel A) = 23,400. N (Panel B) = 579,613.

Figure 4.. The Contribution of Occupation to Educational, Racial-Ethnic, and Nativity Differences in Sickness-Related Absences

Note: Probabilities are estimated using logit models of absences by race-ethnicity, education, and nativity with and without occupational grouping, adjusted for individual and contextual characteristics; Data: Current Population Survey, March–June 2020; N = 23,400.