Employment and Material Hardship Among Adults with Long COVID in December 2022

Long COVID has been linked to reduced working hours, food insecurity, and difficulty paying rent, mortgage, and utility bills.

The Issue

Long COVID involves severe symptoms that are present for a minimum of four weeks after initial infection, and affects at least 10 percent of people who had a COVID-19 infection. Long COVID can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their ability to work and afford to meet their basic needs, which can affect their recovery and long-term health and wellbeing.

Key Findings

• One in 10 of those with a prior COVID infection experience long COVID. One in five adults with COVID experienced symptoms lasting four weeks or more.
  • Individuals who are female, age 40 or older, have preexisting chronic health conditions, had severe COVID infections, or did not receive a COVID vaccine are more likely to be at risk for long COVID.
  • Research has also shown Hispanic/Latinx adults, adults with low incomes, and adults with low educational attainment have a higher prevalence of long COVID.
    
• Of those with long COVID, one in 10 stopped working due to their symptoms. Additionally, one in four limited activities outside of work to continue to work, which may indicate a lack of workplace flexibility.
  
• More than 40 percent of adults with long COVID reported food insecurity. Approximately one in five adults with long COVID struggled to pay their rent or mortgage, with one in four struggling to pay utility bills.

Conclusion

Long COVID exacerbates employment and material hardships. Researchers conclude that expanding access to safety net programs, providing universal paid leave, and increasing workplace accommodations can help mitigate negative impacts of long COVID. 

About the Author/Grantee

The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.

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