Who Are Our Essential Workers? During this historic time of pandemic, Lawrence and Douglas County employees were resolute in working to maintain some sense of normalcy for local residents. by Emily Mulligan
During the first couple of months of the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. Laura Kelly’s words and executive orders were the guiding lights for Kansans. So when she signed Executive Order No. 20-16 on March 28, 2020, calling for a statewide “stay-home” order, she also defined which types of businesses across the state were exceptions for remaining operational. The governor’s order listed the following as “essential businesses” at that time: hospitals, child-care facilities, government operations, food and beverage sales and manufacturing, liquor stores, utility companies and lawncare services. Schools already were shut down across the state at the time of the order, so they were not included on the list. 34
According to the database of The Chamber in Lawrence, using the governor’s definition, about 22,000 workers in Douglas County are considered essential workers. That is a substantial proportion of the approximately 80,000-person workforce in a population of about 112,000. Both the City of Lawrence and the government of Douglas County have remained operating—with some modifications, of course—throughout the year. Their workforces handle a wide range of jobs, from first responders and law enforcement to information technology and parks. How many people work which types of essential jobs in Douglas County? What are the highest-paying job sectors for essential workers? Who comprises the city and county workforces? Local databases and numbers shed some light on those questions and more.
