Job precarity and economic prospects during the COVID-19 public health crisis

Abstract

Objective: As labor markets in recent decades have become increasingly volatile and precarious, more workers are susceptible to working conditions threatening their economic security. COVID-19 has further laid bare such economic insecurity from holding a precarious job. We examined the association between precarious employment and the probability of losing income or a job during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A multivariate regression analysis was conducted using a cross-sectional data set collected in May 2020 in the United States. Results: Our results confirm a strong positive association between precarious employment and losing work or income. Specifically, holding part-time work in the service sector, and feeling disempowered in the workplace, receiving low material rewards, having few benefits, and experiencing obstacles in exercising rights all significantly doubled the probability of losing income or jobs. Conclusion: Our analysis underscores the increasing vulnerability faced by our workforce and how a public health crisis magnifies the dire consequences of a precarious job.