NUMBER OF THE DAY
The Disproportionate Covid-19 Risk for Workers of Color, by the Numbers
A greater share of Black, Latinx, and Native American workers are in jobs with a risk of coronavirus exposure than white workers
51%: That’s the share of Black and Latinx workers whose jobs must be done in person and in proximity to others, according to a study by the Urban Institute as reported by CNBC. In comparison, just 41% of white workers hold such jobs.
The disproportionate health impact of Covid-19 on minority communities has been known for months. In May, Max Ufberg wrote in GEN about the Navajo Nation coping with a higher per capita rate of infection than any U.S. state (Urban Institute also found Native Americans more likely than white workers to hold jobs with high Covid-19 risk). And in June, Emily Mullin explained on the Medium Coronavirus Blog why the pandemic has been taking a higher toll on Black communities.
That members of these communities are in occupations that put them at greater risk of exposure to the virus is a contributing factor to the disparate impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has deepened the rift in the economy between the workers who can do their jobs remotely and those who can’t, with greater job losses in occupations that require interpersonal contact. The Urban Institute’s findings show the extent to which that divide is also a racial one.
That second relief bill can’t come soon enough.
For more Number of the Day, follow Marker Editors.
