The number of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Georgia keeps increasing. Georgia ranked sixth in number of deaths caused by COVID-19. Social distancing  measures have been put in place to “flatten the curve”, and have resulted in large direct and indirect effects on our economy. Last week, we took a look at older adult population age 65 years and above that are at-high-risk group to the COVID-19, and this week, we’re focusing on high-vulnerability areas from an economic perspective.

The interactive map below overlays COVID-19 county-level confirmed cases (dots sized by number) with the percent share (shading by level) of economically vulnerable populations. Clicking on any area of interest (and making a variable selection) will reveal details about the percent share of households with household income less than $35,000, percent share of households with  a mortgage costing 30 percent or more, percent share of renters with gross rent at 30 percent or more of income, and percent share of individuals without insurance. As of March 29th, Fulton County has the highest number of  confirmed COVID-19 cases as well as the number of deaths related to the virus, followed by Dougherty and DeKalb Counties. Although Dougherty County does have high medical-risk factors, the potential negative economic impact on the county is concerning, given Dougherty’s  relatively high percent share of economically vulnerable groups.

Source: Census American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year, 2014-2018

As we try to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 incidence, working from home is becoming more common. Of course, not all workers can have the option to work from home. Many jobs require an in-person presence, and these jobs and the workers filling them are taking a hard hit from this virus.

The interactive map below shows the at-risk occupation concentration, with overlays of population and population density, for zip code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in the Atlanta MSA. These occupations have been preliminary designated by ARC Research & Analytics as those most likely to experience layoffs or furloughs. These occupations selected are as follows, with Standard Occupational Code (SOCs) in parentheses:

• (13-1120) Meeting, convention, and event planners
• (25-3098) Substitute teachers
• (27-2042) Musicians and singers
• (27-2099) Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other
• (29-9091) Athletic trainers
• (31-2020) Physical therapist assistants and aides
• (31-9010) Massage therapists
• (35-1011) Chefs and head cooks
• (35-1012) First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
• (35-2020) Food preparation workers
• (35-3010) Bartenders
• (35-3021) Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
• (35-3030) Waiters and waitresses
• (35-9010) Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
• (35-9020) Dishwashers
• (35-9030) Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
• (35-9099) Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
• (39-3030) Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
• (39-3091) Amusement and recreation attendants
• (39-6000) Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges
• (39-9031) Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
• (39-9032) Recreation workers
• (43-4080) Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks,
• (51-3011) Bakers
• (51-3093) Food cooking machine operators and tenders
• (51-6010) Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
• (53-2021) Air traffic controllers

ZCTAs with 4,000 or more of residents working in the “severely threatened” occupations are all located in Gwinnett County.  ZCTAs 30043 and 30044 have the largest number of resident workers in the severely threatened occupations– at 4,324 and 4,078, respectively.

Occupation data: JobsEQ Labor Insight (data); ARC Research & Analytics (preliminary definition)

Population data: Census ACS 5-year 2014-2018