Service industry employees who were already paying Boston’s highest-percentage of earnings as rent are among the first to feel the effects of COVID-19-induced job losses, according to an initial analysis of the pandemic’s economic effects.

Nearly half of the city’s labor force, or approximately 190,000 workers, are employed in seven sectors that are the most vulnerable to layoffs, the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s research division said in a report this week.

Accommodations and food service industry employees account for 22 percent of unemployment claims filed in the past two weeks, and renters in that group already were spending over 35 percent of their household income on rent.

Other service industry employees, construction workers, the arts/entertainment/recreation industries, transportation and warehousing, retail and health care/social assistance rounded out the seven job sectors, with 37.5 percent overall paying more than 35 percent of income in rent.

“Even before layoffs, furloughs and reduced hours due to COVID-19, these workers’ earnings were barely enough to keep up with the cost of housing and necessities,” the report noted.

Occupational clusters include a high percentage of arts/entertainment/recreation workers in Allston-Brighton and the Fenway, construction workers in Dorchester and Hyde Park and accommodations/food services, construction and transportation/warehousing in East Boston.

Boston Renters Hit Hard by COVID-19 Impacts

by Steve Adams time to read: 1 min
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