BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — COVID-19 has led to an economic shutdown due to nonessential businesses being closed.
It has recently been reported that 58,600 Bakersfield workers have been directly impacted by COVID-19.
The pandemic affects 21.3 % of American workers in retail, leisure and hospitality who are not only affected by the loss of work, but below-average wages.
According to the latest annual data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for workers in the retail trade and leisure and hospitality sectors was $19.70 and $16.55 in 2019, compared to $28 per hour across all workers.
More than one-fifth of all U.S. workers were employed in either retail trade or leisure and hospitality in 2019, totaling over 32 million workers.
To find the locations with the workforces most impacted by COVID-19, researchers at Volusion used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The researchers ranked metro areas according to the share of workers employed in the retail trade and leisure and hospitality industries. Researchers also looked at the total number of retail trade workers, the total number of leisure and hospitality workers, the cost of living and the percent of residents below the poverty level.
This analysis found that 21.4% of the Bakersfield metro area's workforce operates in the retail trade and leisure and hospitality industries. The Bakersfield, CA metropolitan area’s workforce is experiencing an above average impact during the coronavirus pandemic. Here is the summary of the data for the Bakersfield, CA metro:
- Share of employment in retail, leisure and hospitality: 21.4%
- Total retail workers: 31,100
- Total leisure and hospitality workers: 27,500
- Cost of living: 4.0% below average
- Percent below the poverty level: 20.6%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
- Share of employment in retail, leisure and hospitality: 21.3%
- Total retail workers: 15,786,300
- Total leisure and hospitality workers: 16,295,000
- Cost of living: N/A
- Percent below the poverty level: 13.1%
Check here for more information, a detailed methodology and complete results for all metros.
