10 Occupations Hit Hardest by Coronavirus Pandemic Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

10 Occupations Hit Hardest by the Pandemic

Many fields popular with older workers have seen layoffs pay cuts reduced hours

Travis Medlock stands in an empty restaurant in Mariposa, California. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images As the nation's workforce continues to reel from the widespread , new research shows that workers in some industries have taken harder hits than others. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Roughly 1.3 million people filed new claims for unemployment benefits during the week ending July 11, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday. Since the pandemic led to the temporary shutdowns of many businesses across the nation in March, more than 50 million people have filed new claims for unemployment benefits. The June unemployment rate for workers age 55 and older was 9.7 percent, dropping from 11.8 percent one month earlier as some businesses started to resume operations. The overall June unemployment rate was 11.1 percent. These large numbers mean the pandemic has affected workers in most fields in one way or another, including job loss, reduced pay or reduced benefits. But new research from Gallup finds that workers in some fields have felt the impact more than others.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense economic damage, but the harm has not been evenly felt,” writes. “Workers who provide in-person services have borne the brunt of layoffs and wage reductions.” Gallup's COVID-19 Tracking Survey has been collecting information on the occupations of those who are working and those who are unemployed but have worked within the past year. The responses are then used to estimate unemployment by occupation. According to the Gallup findings, these are the 10 occupations that the pandemic has affected the most.

1 Service Workers

Percent laid off: 34 Percent reduced hours: 41 Percent reduced pay: 43 This category includes a broad range of occupations — such as food servers, security guards and janitors — that typically involve on-site duties or face-to-face interactions. Widespread temporary shutdowns of businesses made it impossible for many of these workers to perform their job duties. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > The loss of such jobs in some of these fields could affect older workers disproportionately. For example, according to a study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), 35.6 percent of the people who work as building janitors and cleaners are age 50 and older.

2 Arts design entertainment and media workers

Percent laid off: 25 Percent reduced hours: 27 Percent reduced pay: 48 When theaters are closed for audiences, that means the cast and crew who create your favorite performances on stage and screen are out of work, at least temporarily. But the ripple effects reach out further, causing job losses for ushers, ticket takers, concession stand workers and others — jobs that older adults often fill because of the part-time hours available.

3 Small business owners

Percent laid off: 18 Percent reduced hours: 35 Percent reduced pay: 64 Before the pandemic hit, the business of . In 2018, 25.8 percent of new businesses were started by people between the ages of 55 and 64, up from 14 percent in 1996. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. loan that could become a grant, , or .

4 Construction or mining workers

Percent laid off: 18 Percent reduced hours: 30 Percent reduced pay: 38 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction-related occupations employed more than 2.6 million people age 55 and older in 2016. In fact, prior to the pandemic, the agency had cited construction and building inspectors as .

5 Sales workers

Percent laid off: 18 Percent reduced hours: 36 Percent reduced pay: 46 To deter the spread of the coronavirus, many local and state government temporarily closed all nonessential stores and showplaces, which meant that employees in these fields couldn't work. According to the BLS, roughly 7.9 million people age 55 and older work in sales positions.

6 Transportation workers

Percent laid off: 17 Percent reduced hours: 46 Percent reduced pay: 49 Driving is an occupation that tends to employ many older adults, in part due to the flexible schedules and part-time positions that are available. For example, according to the CEPR study, 46.7 percent of employees who work for public transit systems are over the age of 50.

7 Manufacturing or production workers

Percent laid off: 15 Percent reduced hours: 32 Percent reduced pay: 36 Workers in manufacturing jobs tend to stay with their employer more than those in other private-sector industries. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, roughly 27 percent of workers in manufacturing are age 55 and older. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. as hospitals and other health care facilities suspended elective medical procedures. The CEPR study found that 34.6 percent of health care workers are age 50 and older.

10 Clerical or office workers

Percent laid off: 11 Percent reduced hours: 21 Percent reduced pay: 22 Not everyone who works in an office is able to do their job remotely. Many people who do clerical work, short-term temporary work or similar support positions have faced layoffs or reduced hours during the pandemic. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 4, 2020 and has been updated with more recent data on unemployment.
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