Occupational Social Distancing Indices, United States, 2019

Researchers used data from the 2019 Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Work Context module, which reports summary measures of the tasks used in 968 occupations (National Center for O*NET Development 2020). These data were gathered through surveys asking workers how often they perform particular tasks and about the importance of different activities in their jobs. Some of the questions relate to the need for face-to-face interaction with clients, customers, and coworkers, and other questions assess how easily work could be done remotely. Researchers used such questions to build two occupation indices: Face-to-Face (questions on face-to-face discussions and physical proximity) and Remote Work (questions on use of electronic mail, written letters, and phone conversation). Occupational characteristics in the O*NET were measured prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that they do not capture "work practice innovations" that may have been induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the fact that many teachers and professors transitioned from face-to-face to online instruction during the pandemic.