According to The Aspen Institute, as the world heats up, nearly a third of the workforce is at risk, especially workers in groundskeeping, construction, and agriculture. Note researchers, it is not just outdoor workers who face danger as many of the drivers and warehouse workers who form the backbone of our on-demand economy spend their days in hot vans and warehouses, without air conditioning or sufficient breaks. And they note, workers from minority backgrounds are most affected by excessive heat, with more than half of Black, Latino, and immigrant workers employed in “exposed” jobs, all while being less likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance.
Additional insights shared by The Aspen Institute include:
- Researchers have found that the rate of occupational injury and accidents increases steadily as temperatures go up, and as many as 2,000 workers die every year due to heat.
- Low-wage workers often can’t pay for basics such as food or shelter if they miss a day’s pay, so they keep working even when they know it’s too hot.
- As heat harms workers’ health, making it more difficult for them to carry out their tasks, productivity is impacted.
The Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) will host a Zoom event on Wednesday, July 30th, at 1:30 PM to help workforce professionals learn more about how the warming climate is affecting workers, and what policymakers, businesses, and labor are doing to keep workers safe. This event is part of EOP’s Opportunity in America conversation series.
Click here to learn more and register.