By: Dominic Hernandez
Have you ever taken the time to think about those who are risking their lives doing their job during COVID-19, besides frontline workers? Essential workers are normal people like us. They can be anyone from a grocery store cashier, to a nurse at your local hospital.
These people are essential to the globe; they are supplying us with our necessities while they continue life as if nothing has happened. Last March, essential workers were not seen because everyone was in a panic from losing their jobs, loved ones, and dealing with kids being put into virtual learning.
California’s essential workers are not all the same compared to other states and continents. They are mainly grocery, postal, education, and hospitality positions. The pandemic was able to help shine a light on these workers, and thank them for all that they do for their community.
Over 70% of essential workers can’t work from home, but need to be in a certain location, where they run the risk of catching COVID-19. Frontline workers include, but are not limited to, healthcare workers, protective service workers (police and EMTs), cashiers in grocery and general merchandise stores, production and food processing workers, janitors and maintenance workers, agricultural workers, and truck drivers.
Below are the six different types of frontline industries, and the percentage of essential workers within them.
1.Grocery, Convince, & drug stores 23%
2.Public Transit 3%
3.Trucking, Warehouse, & postal service 10%
4.Building Cleaning Services.5%
5.Health Care 50%
6.Child Care & Social Services 9%
During the pandemic and now, there are still not enough workers. The pandemic’s effect on the economy, labor shortages, evolving demographic trends and expanded unemployment benefits, have momentarily swung the pendulum in favor of workers. Unemployment isn’t helping people get their essentials, but it is a way of keeping people safe inside the comfort of their homes.
beniciapaw.com 