Coronavirus and Health Disparities in Construction

Date Posted: June 4, 2020

Posted In: COVID-19 UPDATES, White Papers, Workforce,

From Center For Construction Research and Training Data Bulletin: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the world, including the United States. While this pandemic has affected each of us, some groups may be disproportionately impacted by the virus.

Currently available information and clinical expertise indicate that older workers and workers of any age who have certain underlying medical conditions (e.g., heart or lung disease, diabetes), and other factors (e.g., smoking, obesity) might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. At this point, it is unknown how many construction workers have become sick or lost their lives due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To assess the potential risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in the construction industry, this Data Bulletin provides updated employment and health information among construction workers by analyzing available national survey data. The employment numbers were estimated from the Current Population Survey, while medical conditions and other risk factors were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey. This Bulletin focuses on older workers, Hispanic workers, black workers, and workers with underlying medical conditions or other risk factors defined by the CDC. Term definitions are included at the end of this report.

According to the CDC, older age is associated with increased risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, which presents a significant challenge given that the overall U.S. workforce is aging. From 1986 to 2019, the average age of U.S. workers increased by five years, from 37.3 to 42.4 (chart 1). In the past, construction workers were typically younger than the average U.S. workforce, but in recent years this pattern reversed. The average age of construction workers jumped 3.5 years between 2006 and 2019, compared to an increase of 1.6 years in all industries combined. By 2012, the average age of construction workers exceeded that of workers in all industries, and it remained higher through 2019 (42.7 vs 42.4 years).

Within construction, age varies by occupation. Over 15% of truck drivers, administrative support workers, construction managers, and highway maintenance workers were age 60 or older in 2019, compared to only 6% of roofers (chart 2). Workers in some occupations, such as highway maintenance, may be more likely to work on essential projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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