Who are the essential and frontline workers?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Labor Economics
• Sociology

Background:

• Understanding essential and frontline worker demographics is crucial for policy decisions regarding social insurance, safety nets, and resource allocation (PPE, vaccines) during crises like COVID-19.
• Previous research has not clearly defined or quantified these worker groups, hindering targeted policy interventions.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for precise identification of workers critical to societal function and those at highest risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a working definition and provide data on the demographic and labor market composition of essential and frontline workers.
• To differentiate between the broader category of essential workers and the narrower group of frontline workers.
• To inform policymakers and researchers for effective resource allocation and social policy development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2018-2019 American Community Survey microdata to identify essential workers based on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) March 2020 industry guidelines.
• Employed occupation-based work-from-home feasibility data to identify frontline workers who likely worked in-person during early COVID-19 (March/April 2020).
• Excluded industries operating under limited demand or shutdowns (Vavra 2020) and considered updated December 2020 DHS guidelines.

Main Results:

• Essential workers constitute a large labor force segment, mirroring general demographic and labor market characteristics.
• Frontline workers, in contrast, are characterized by lower education levels, reduced wages, and higher proportions of men, minority groups (especially Hispanics), and immigrants.
• These distinct characteristics of frontline workers persisted even after excluding industries with reduced operations and when incorporating updated federal guidelines.

Conclusions:

• A clear distinction exists between essential and frontline workers, with frontline workers facing greater socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
• The findings underscore the need for targeted support and resource allocation for frontline workers disproportionately affected by economic and health crises.
• Policy interventions should consider the specific demographic and labor market profiles of frontline workers to ensure equitable outcomes.