Bradenton workers expected to be some of the hardest hit by COVID-19, study says
With 28.8 percent of its workforce in the retail trade and leisure and hospitality sectors, the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port metropolitan workforce is forecast to be the eighth hardest-hit mid-sized metro in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic.
The COVID-19 crisis disproportionately affects the 21.3 percent of Americans working in retail, leisure, and hospitality. They not only face lack of work but also suffer from long-standing, below-average wages, according to the business website, Volusion.
The total number of leisure and hospitality workers in the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port area is estimated at 45,700, with nearly as many -- 44,600 -- working in retail.
Among mid-size metros, the Myrtle Beach - Conway, S.C. area ranked as hardest hit area with 42.7 percent of its workforce in retail trade and leisure and hospitality, followed by Naples-Marco Island, 33.4 percent, Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., 32 percent; Salisbury, Md., 31.9 percent, Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach-Deltona, 31.1 percent, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, 30.5 percent, and Salinas, Calif., 29.6 percent.
Among large metros, the Las Vegas area with 294,100 leisure and hospitality workers, and 109,300 retail workers was expected to be hardest hit., followed by Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford with a combined 426,400 workers. Third on the list of large metros hardest hit is New Orleans, followed by Miami-Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Jacksonville, and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.
Researchers at Volusion used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the U.S. Census Bureau in their analysis.
According to the latest annual data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for workers in the retail trade and leisure and hospitality sectors was just $19.70 and $16.55 in 2019, compared to $28 per hour across all workers.
COVID-19 has forced millions out of work, and the retail trade and leisure and hospitality sectors are among the hardest hit.
The original report, which includes a table with data on more than 300 metros and all 50 states can be found at https://www.volusion.com/blog/cities-with-the-most-impacted-workforces-during-coronavirus/
Another dispiriting study last week, by MoneyGeek, said that the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port area could see 28 percent of its workforce — about 104,000 people — become unemployed during the coronavirus pandemic.
MoneyGeek has been tracking coronavirus statistics around the country and its economic impact on employment on the regional, state, and national levels.
Jacki Dezelski, president and CEO of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, last week called the MoneyGeek projections sobering and startling.
“There will be both short-term and long-term strategies aimed at turning the job losses around as quickly and smartly as possible. As PPP funds, and other financial assistance programs, are delivered to businesses here in the Manatee-Sarasota region, you will see more businesses able to maintain and even rehire employees. Policy-makers at all levels are continuing to explore additional assistance for employers, employees and laid-off workers,” Dezelski said.
Last week, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity showed that Manatee County’s unemployment jumped to 4.2 percent in March, up from 3 percent in February and 3.1 percent a year earlier. The worst is feared yet to come.
There were 2,745 unemployment assistance claims filed in Manatee County for the week ending April 4, the most recent period for which local claims numbers are available.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 1:26 PM.
