Essential Workers



The COVID-19 pandemic has sadly limited job opportunities in the United States and abroad.  With far fewer people making casual purchases or going out for entertainment, many companies are facing financial hardships.

However, even in times of health crises and unstable economic conditions, there are still jobs out there that will always be in demand.  The government has deemed these jobs to be "essential" and required them to stay in business no matter what.  If you're looking for a career in these fields, or at least have an interest in them, this is a good time to start pursuing it.

Though there may be some variations by state, below is a list of the 12 industries that are generally considered essential in the United States, along with the percentage of essential workers employed in each field (SOURCE: epi.org):

  1. Health care (30.2%)
  2. Food and agriculture (20.6%)
  3. Industrial, commercial, residential facilities and services (12.3%)
  4. Government and community-based services (8.3%)
  5. Transportation, warehouse, and delivery (7.2%)
  6. Communications and IT (5.8%)
  7. Financial sector (5.6%)
  8. Critical manufacturing (3.5%)
  9. Emergency services (3.3%)
  10. Energy sector (2.4%)
  11. Chemical sector (0.5%)
  12. Water and wastewater management (0.2%)

 
In an effort to keep their businesses from being victimized by these restrictions, many other companies have made arguments that their positions are "essential."  For example, video game retailers have claimed their stores should stay open because they also sell computer parts, which are needed by people working from home.  Candy sellers and manufacturers have claimed that staying home makes people crave sweets, so they should count as essential food workers.  Furniture retailers have stated that they provide "essential infrastructure" for quarantined people (SOURCE: The Chicago Tribune).

The nature of being essential is difficult to define and even more difficult to enforce, but it's important to consider this when you weigh the options for your career.  For as long as humanity can be traced, someone eyeing a potential career has faced the question of whether the services he or she would provide will still be in demand in the future.  In these challenging times, the future is now.