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Women accounted for 70.8 percent of workplace illnesses caused by viruses in 2020
January 09, 2023
Women accounted for 70.8 percent of the 390,020 reported workplace illness cases caused by “other diseases due to viruses, not elsewhere classified” in private establishments in 2020. We will call these cases viruses for short. This category includes COVID-19 cases. Nursing assistants had the highest number of virus cases (65,480) in 2020. Of these cases, 87.2 percent were women. Among medical assistants, women accounted for 90.7 percent of these virus cases.
Number of workplace illnesses in private establishments involving days away from work caused by other diseases due to viruses, not elsewhere classified, by selected occupation and gender, 2020
Occupation
Women
Men
Gender not reported
Nursing assistants
57,120
7,830
530
Registered nurses
46,560
6,660
670
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
20,140
2,590
190
Personal care aides
11,770
2,360
80
Maids and housekeeping cleaners
7,480
2,130
80
Medical and health services managers
7,180
2,040
60
Healthcare support workers, all other
5,970
1,000
70
Medical assistants
5,060
430
100
Production workers, all other
2,060
3,230
120
Retail salespersons
2,720
2,520
20
The age groups with the highest percentage of virus cases varied among occupations. Among registered nurses, workers ages 25 to 34 accounted for 27.7 percent of the 53,890 reported virus cases.
Age distribution of workers in private establishments with workplace illnesses involving days away from work caused by other diseases due to viruses, not elsewhere classified, by selected occupation, 2020
Occupation
16 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 and older
Age not reported
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
0.0%
4.3%
20.8%
21.4%
27.5%
18.1%
3.4%
4.4%
Maids and housekeeping cleaners
1.9
8.3
15.6
17.3
20.4
27.2
5.1
4.1
Nursing assistants
4.4
13.4
21.2
19.0
15.9
16.5
3.8
5.9
Personal care aides
5.0
14.1
22.1
21.3
15.7
15.3
2.7
3.9
Registered nurses
0.0
6.9
27.7
21.9
22.7
15.2
3.5
2.2
Among licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, workers ages 45 to 54 accounted for 27.5 percent of the 22,910 virus cases. Among maids and housekeeping cleaners, workers ages 55 to 64 accounted for 27.2 percent of the 9,690 virus cases.
United States Department of Labor
