Why This is Important
In Durham County more people work in education, health care and social assistance (“eds and meds”) than any other sector - 53,269, or 33.6% of all workers (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2018). These workers are deemed essential for the function of our society and the safety of our community - and this is especially so in times of pandemic as we now face with COVID-19. Currently, teachers are rapidly transitioning curricula to virtual formats (when possible), and health care workers are on the job without adequate protective equipment.
But within these job sectors there are also long-standing inequities. For example in health care, while some essential workers (certified nurse assistants) make a fraction of others (specialist doctors), their wages have also further diverged since 2000 - low wages stagnating and high salaries growing steadily.
About the Data
American Community Survey (5-year), table DP03. These estimates refer to the civilian employed population 16 years and over who are working in these sectors: educational services, and health care and social assistance.
Source: American Community Survey (5-year), table DP03.
Additional Resources
| Resource | Learn More and Take Action |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits, NC Department of Commerce | After filing a claim, it will take about 14 days to receive first payment. The additional $600 in federal benefits will be for weeks ending April 4 – July 31. DES is awaiting guidance for issuing those payments. Benefits owed will be paid retroactively. |
| COVID-19 Resource Spreadsheet - Durham NC (English) | Community-wide resource listings for crisis support, mutual aid, money for lost wages and more (maintained by Community Empowerment Fund). |
| CDC Coronavirus/COVID-19 Strategies | This resource offers comprehensive guidance for community members as well as local, state and national public officials on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and ensuring health workers have the resources necessary to stay safe. |
| Labor and Employment Data (D4) NC Commerce | County- and state-level employment and labor statistics from 2000 through the present. |
| American Community Survey (ACS) | "The American Community Survey collects data on an ongoing basis, January through December, to provide every community with the information they need to make important decisions. We release new data every year, in the form of estimates, in a variety of tables, tools, and analytical reports." |
Select a base geography (depending on the dataset, different geographies may be available).
Data Distribution, 2018
Percent of Workers in Educational, Health Care and Social Assistance Services
