Variation in Employment in Healthcare Occupations and County-Level Differences in COVID-19 Cases in the United States of America

Objective: To study how county-level differences in employment in healthcare occupations contributes to county-level differences in COVID-19 cases. Method: The number of active COVID-19 cases were gathered from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center weekly between April 22, 2020 and July 1, 2020. Data for the number of workers employed in healthcare occupations were collected at the county-level from the American Community Survey. These data were combined to explore the association between employment patterns and rates of COVID-19 cases. Result: Counties with more employment in healthcare-related occupations experienced higher rate of COVID-19. This association was strongest in April and May compared to later months of the pandemic. Conclusion: Employment in healthcare occupations may contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Intervention to protect workers may help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.