Nonrelocatable Occupations at Increased Risk During Pandemics: United States, 2018

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health Policy
• Labor Economics

Background:

• Pandemics like COVID-19 necessitate evaluating remote work feasibility.
• Understanding occupation-specific work-from-home capabilities is crucial for public health preparedness.
• Previous research has not comprehensively identified US occupations suitable for remote work during pandemics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify U.S. occupations that can likely be performed remotely during a pandemic.
• To quantify the number of workers in remote-eligible versus non-remote-eligible occupations.
• To assess the implications for worker health and economic security.

Main Methods:

• Merged 2018 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) national employment and wage data.
• Utilized BLS O*NET survey data on computer use importance and public interaction.
• Categorized occupations based on remote work potential.

Main Results:

• Approximately 25% (35.6 million) of U.S. workers are in occupations suitable for remote work.
• The remaining 75% of workers are in occupations challenging to perform remotely (e.g., healthcare, manufacturing, retail).
• Remote-eligible occupations are often in technology, administration, finance, and engineering sectors.

Conclusions:

• The majority of U.S. workers (75%) are in occupations not conducive to remote work, increasing pandemic-related health risks.
• Lower-paid workers are disproportionately in non-remote occupations, facing higher risks and job insecurity.
• Increased mental health burden and workplace transmission of infectious diseases are potential consequences for essential workers.