How resilient were essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Friedrich Poeschel presents his research on how the pandemic affected different segments of the workforce in essential sectors during the next Migration Policy Centre seminar. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of essential workers—employees in key sectors such as health, long-term care, and food supply—who had to continue working even during lockdowns. Using detailed data from Italy, this seminar presents a study that empirically investigates how essential workers responded to the impact of the pandemic compared to other workers. Special attention is given to behavioural differences between native-born workers and migrants, who are disproportionately represented among essential workers. The results reveal notable differences in behavioural responses to the pandemic, highlighting specific strengths and vulnerabilities of migrants in essential roles.