PROTECT NCS Impact case: Relationships between occupation and Covid-19 outcomes
19 July 2024
This work explored relationships between types of occupation and the risk of Covid-19 outcomes such as infection, severe disease and Long Covid.
We found evidence that there were increased risks for some occupational groups and that this varied over time. For some occupational groups, high elevations in risk seen early in the pandemic largely disappeared by the later waves. The findings were fed into government departments and featured in an independent government report on Covid-19 and occupational impacts.
There are many workplace features that are likely to be related to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) such as contact with other people, ventilation, likelihood of mask-use and ability to work from home. It was important to know which occupations, if any, are at increased risk from Covid-19, so that support strategies could be targeted to those groups during the pandemic and in future pandemics.
Additionally, identifying characteristics of occupational groups with elevated risks can also help us to identify workplace factors most likely to be related to the transmission of Covid-19. This means that modifications to the workplace can be put in place.
This work was supported by funding through the National Core Study 'PROTECT' programme, managed by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of HM Government and funding from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey funding bids.
This research used data made available via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service, which is being expanded and improved with ADR UK funding.