20-30 MIN READ
The response to the coronavirus crisis has underlined the critical role of the UKs ‘key
workers’ – a term which has been used to describe the type of work that was deemed
essential during the pandemic. A recent data release from the Office of National
Statistics provides some insights into this broad group of workers.
This briefing note uses this data to analyse key workers across different sectors in terms of their demographic profiles (such as education, gender and nationality) and their working
conditions. Where possible, the review focuses on key workers within the Region.
Key Findings:
- Over a third of workers in Scotland and Glasgow City Region is a key worker.
- In Glasgow City Region the majority of key workers are employed in Health and
Social Care occupations (108,000) and Education and Childcare (49,000). - Most key workers in the UK are women- and are highly represented in Health and
Social Care and Education and Childcare. - There are more degree level qualified key workers (41.7%) than there are
among non-key workers (33.3%). - During the pandemic, only a minority of key workers in the UK could work from
home. - Those in food and necessary goods sectors have the lowest pay – the median
earner in this sector earned £200 per week in 2019. - Care workers are paid less than the median weekly pay (£470). Moreover,
43% of Care workers in Scotland earn less than the Real Living wage. - In the Social Care sector there are a number of challenges which need to be
addressed – such as skills underutilisation and staff shortages.