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When face-to-face interactions become an occupational hazard: Jobs in the time of COVID-19

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  • Avdiu, Besart
  • Nayyar, Gaurav

Abstract

The vulnerability of jobs to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has thus far been analyzed through the lens of home-based work. However, as lockdowns ease, activities intensive in face-to-face interactions with consumers will likely be slower to recover as people continue to exercise social distancing precautions. This paper uses data on 900 job titles from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database for the United States to demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in the importance of face-to-face interactions across industries, income groups, and gender. First, industries vary in whether they emphasize face-to-face interactions and home-based work and the two do not always go hand-in-hand. Second, occupations that are more intensive in face-to-face interactions are largely concentrated among lower wage deciles. Third, a larger share of women’s employment is accounted for by occupations that are intensive in face-to-face interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Avdiu, Besart & Nayyar, Gaurav, 2020. "When face-to-face interactions become an occupational hazard: Jobs in the time of COVID-19," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:197:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520304080
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109648
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simon Mongey & Laura Pilossoph & Alexander Weinberg, 2021. "Which workers bear the burden of social distancing?," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(3), pages 509-526, September.
    2. Louis-Philippe Beland & Abel Brodeur & Taylor Wright, 2020. "COVID-19, Stay-at-Home Orders and Employment: Evidence from CPS Data," Carleton Economic Papers 20-04, Carleton University, Department of Economics, revised 19 May 2020.
    3. Dingel, Jonathan I. & Neiman, Brent, 2020. "How many jobs can be done at home?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    4. Oldenski, Lindsay, 2012. "Export Versus FDI and the Communication of Complex Information," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 312-322.
    5. Alan S. Blinder, 2009. "How Many US Jobs Might be Offshorable?," World Economics, World Economics, 1 Ivory Square, Plantation Wharf, London, United Kingdom, SW11 3UE, vol. 10(2), pages 41-78, April.
    6. Maho Hatayama & Mariana Viollaz & Hernan Winkler, 2020. "Jobs’ Amenability to Working from Home: Evidence from Skills Surveys for 53 Countries," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0263, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Jobs; Face-to-face interactions; Home-based work;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J29 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Other
    • O29 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Other
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General

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