Impacts of Jobs Requiring Close Physical Proximity and High Interaction with the Public on U.S. Industry Employment Change During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract This paper examines the factors affecting U.S. industry employment change in early months of COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that percentage occupations require close physical proximity has a negative effect on year-over-year six April through September 2020. On other hand, jobs involve high interaction with public and May, but not June to September. These different results related are driven, part, by uneven impacts hospitality retail businesses.