Data Insight: Occupation and COVID-19 deaths: Scotland in a comparative perspective

There are occupational disparities in the risk of COVID-19. People working in occupations with close contact with others may be at a higher risk of death due to COVID-19. Occupational exposures may also be modified by the workplace policies put in place to protect workers in different national con texts.

In this Data Insight, we explore how COVID-19 mortality rates vary by occupation for women and men in Scotland in the period between 1st March 2020 and 31st January 2021. Using a national novel linked data collection, we contrast preliminary results for Scotland with those from a similar linked data study for England.

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What we found

Key findings include:

• Differences in mortality rates across occupations reflect both occupational risks and the social class gradient in underlying health. This stands out as we move from the higher-status end of the classification (Managers, director and senior officials) to the lower end (Cleaners and domestic workers).
• Higher COVID-19 mortality rates were observed among the adult population in Scotland com pared to that in England. In both countries, women displayed lower mortality rates compared to men.
• In Scotland, exceptionally higher mortality rates were recorded among men working in ‘Other elementary service occupations’ such as kitchen and catering assistants, waiters and hospital porters, along with taxi and cab drivers, and large goods vehicle drivers.
• Among Scottish women, higher rates were observed among those working in ‘Elementary trades and related occupations’, including industrial cleaning occupations, packers, bottlers and canners. Higher rates were also observed among female workers employed as ‘Process, plant and machine operatives’, which included occupations from process operatives in food, drink and textile industries, to assemblers and sewing machinists, as well as more general ‘Elementary occupations’, such as postal workers and couriers, and elementary sales occupa tions, such as shelf fillers in stores.
• Compared to England, in Scotland there were lower mortality rates among men working as ‘Health professionals’ (e.g. medical practitioners, nurses and pharmacists), in ‘Caring personal services’ (e.g. nursing auxiliaries and assistants, ambulance staff), and among both care and home workers.

Why it matters

As we move through the different stages of the pandemic, it is crucial to understand the drivers of occupational differences in COVID-19 mortality by sex and country. This is needed to design policy interventions which help to target protection measures to higher risk and more vulnerable occupational groups.