Critical Infrastructure Workers Remain Key to Ohio’s Health and Economic Recovery

Essential in Ohio

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Executive Summary

Ohio’s essential workers have always been indispensable. COVID-19 showed us just how much so when – as others sheltered at home – the Ohioans working in health care, child care, the food supply chain and other critical needs kept showing up to work. They cared for the sick and the children of other essential workers; kept the utilities on and the groceries stocked; and performed the countless tasks on which we all depend. In doing so, they took on great risk to themselves and their families.

Policymakers failed frontline workers with inadequate protections and too little pay. At the median, essential jobs in Ohio pay less than nonessential jobs. Ohio never mandated state wide hazard pay, as six other states have. Ohio lawmakers made no provisions to provide paid sick time to the first responders and Ohioans at large employers excluded from federal mandates, Ohio essential workers deserve better.

Key Findings

Three in 10 employed Ohioans work in an essential job. These are jobs that meet critical needs, including health and childcare, trans portation, utilities, and food.

Essential workers in Ohio are paid 12.9% less at the median than people in nonessential jobs, even while many face higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 to themselves and their families.

While men and women are equally likely to work essential jobs, women work more of the lowest paid and highest exposure jobs.

Ohioans of color are more likely to work in essential jobs that place them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 in the work place.

Being represented by a union is associated with 23% higher pay for Ohio essential workers and 20% higher pay for workers in nonessential jobs across all industries.

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