The roles that carry the highest chance of catching COVID-19 tend to be held by women such as nurses, pharmacists, carers and several other health jobs, where the majority of workers are female.
These results come from the think tank, Autonomy which analysed UK jobs which involve the most physical contact with others. It also found that those on lower pay are more likely to catch the virus.
Out of the 3.2 million high risks jobs in the UK at the moment, 2.5 million of these are held by women. As well as 98 per cent of lower-paid jobs being held by women.
The research also found that 22 of 28 vulnerable occupations are classed as key workers.
Agata Nowakowska, area vice president at Skillsoft an American educational technology company said:
Coming just days after the UK Government announced it would not be enforcing this year’s gender pay gap reporting deadline, this report shows exactly why we need to maintain a stark focus on gender parity.
Resolving gender disparity is complex and is made more so by the severity of the global crisis. However, this report clearly shows that the effects of disparity are also complex and wide reaching. Three quarters of those most at risk of coronavirus are women, with the jobs most at risk – in the lowest paid roles – almost entirely staffed by women.
Now more than ever is the time to support them. In normal circumstances, pay gap reporting enables companies to actively recognise and work towards improving the gender pay gap, acting as a benchmark for the entire organisation. But it also goes further, helping employers show their workers they are supported and that the organisation remains conscious of their role in working towards equality.
Whilst we are in uncertain times, we must encourage, support and help those that need us the most. We also must not forget – in the current climate, these are the people we need the most.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
