What Role Do Occupational Differences Play in Subjective Working Conditions Throughout the COVID‐19 Pandemic?

• Published in: Sociological inquiry 2024-08, Vol.94 (3), p.673-689
• Main Authors: Zwan, Roos van der, Yerkes, Mara A., Besamusca, Janna W., Kruyen, Peter M., Remery, Chantal L. H. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; Equality; Job characteristics; Pandemics; Social inequality; Work life balance; Working conditions
• ISSN: 0038-0245; 1475-682X
• DOI: 10.1111/soin.12574

Evidence on the role of occupational differences in subjective working conditions during the pandemic is limited. However, an understanding of how such inequalities develop throughout the pandemic is needed to prevent an overall worsening of social inequality in society. We study occupational inequalities in subjective working conditions—work pressure and work‐life balance—throughout the pandemic. We use four waves of the representative, probability‐based COVID Gender (In)equality Survey Netherlands (COGIS‐NL), collected between April 2020 and November 2020 in The Netherlands. The results show that higher work pressure is reported during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic, particularly among managers and professionals and white‐collar workers. Occupational differences are also found in the probability of having difficulty combining work and care during the pandemic, with managers and professionals most likely to report having difficulty. These differences are no longer evident after controlling for respondent and job characteristics. This longitudinal evidence on occupational differences in subjective working conditions within the working population contributes to a better understanding of social inequalities arising and developing throughout the pandemic.