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Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Labor Market in the United States: Lower Paid Workers Experienced Higher Vulnerability and Slower Recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Neeraj Bhandari

    (Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA)

  • Kavita Batra

    (Office of Research, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA)

  • Soumya Upadhyay

    (Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA)

  • Christopher Cochran

    (Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA)

Abstract

The resilience of the healthcare industry, often considered recession-proof, is being tested by the COVID-19 induced reductions in physical mobility and restrictions on elective and non-emergent medical procedures. We assess early COVID-19 effects on the dynamics of decline and recovery in healthcare labor markets in the United States. Descriptive analyses with monthly cross-sectional data on unemployment rates, employment, labor market entry/exit, and weekly work hours among healthcare workers in each healthcare industry and occupation, using the Current Population Survey from July 2019−2020 were performed. We found that unemployment rates increased dramatically for all healthcare industries, with the strongest early impacts on dentists’ offices (41.3%), outpatient centers (10.5%), physician offices (9.5%), and home health (7.8%). Lower paid workers such as technologists/technicians (10.5%) and healthcare aides (12.6%) were hit hardest and faced persistently high unemployment, while nurses (4%), physicians/surgeons (1.4%), and pharmacists (0.7%) were spared major disruptions. Unique economic vulnerabilities faced by low-income healthcare workers may need to be addressed to avoid serious disruptions from future events similar to COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Neeraj Bhandari & Kavita Batra & Soumya Upadhyay & Christopher Cochran, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Labor Market in the United States: Lower Paid Workers Experienced Higher Vulnerability and Slower Recovery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:3894-:d:531990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaobing Shuai & Christine Chmura & James Stinchcomb, 2021. "COVID-19, labor demand, and government responses: evidence from job posting data," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 56(1), pages 29-42, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ion Popa & Simona Cătălina Ștefan & Ana Alexandra Olariu & Ștefan Cătălin Popa & Cătălina Florentina Popa, 2022. "Modelling the COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Employees’ Health and Performance: A PLS-SEM Mediation Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Qi Zhang & Xinxin Zhang & Qi Cui & Weining Cao & Ling He & Yexin Zhou & Xiaofan Li & Yunpeng Fan, 2022. "The Unequal Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Labour Market and Income Inequality in China: A Multisectoral CGE Model Analysis Coupled with a Micro-Simulation Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, January.

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