Italian workers at risk during the COVID-19 epidemic

Teresa Barbieri, Gaetano Basso and Sergio Scicchitano ()

No 569, Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) from Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area

Abstract: We analyse the content of Italian occupations operating in about 600 sectors with a focus on the dimensions that expose workers to risks during the COVID-19 epidemics. We leverage detailed information from ICP, the Italian equivalent of O*Net and find that several sectors need physical proximity to operate: the workers employed in sectors whose physical proximity index is above the national average are more than 6.5 million (mostly in retail trade). Groups at risk of complications from COVID-19 (mainly male above the age of 50) work in sectors that are little exposed to physical proximity, currently under lockdown or can work remotely. The sectoral lockdowns put in place by the Italian Government in March 2020 targeted sectors who operate in physical proximity, but not those directly exposed to infections (the health industry is not subject to lockdown). Most of the workforce who can operate from home have not been put under lockdown.

Keywords: working conditions; safety; crisis policies; COVID-19 epidemics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H12 I18 J28 J81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lma
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (55)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Italian Workers at Risk During the COVID-19 Epidemic (2022)
Working Paper: Italian Workers at Risk During the Covid-19 Epidemic (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_569_20

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