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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Employment and unemployment

Occupational Employment and Wages in Metro and Nonmetro Areas
A collection of charts with data on metropolitan and nonmetropolitan employment and wages. Includes wage comparisons by occupation for metro and nonmetro areas. Provides information on healthcare-related occupations. Also includes information on wages by educational attainment for metro and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Stella Fayer, Audrey Watson
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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The Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Rural America
Reports on the experiences of rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses impacts on finances, employment, healthcare, housing, food, and child care. Concerns related to healthcare include access to care during the pandemic, concerns for those with special health issues such as chronic conditions, and use of telehealth.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across America
Examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. households. Covers health, economic, and work-related impacts and related issues such as broadband access. Includes a section on problems specific to rural households. A separate report is available that focuses specifically on rural impacts of COVID-19.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Employment Changes Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis: The Effects of Race and Place
Explores financial burdens for women across racial categories associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, including out-of-pocket costs, time away from work, and difficulty coordinating clinical care. Examines data from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study in 44 North Carolina counties to analyze financial implications when comparing rural-urban and racial categories.
Author(s): Jennifer C Spencer, Jason S Rotter, Jan M Eberth, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 112(6), 647-650
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
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Farm Households Reported That Working Off the Farm Provided Greater and More Stable Income, Along with Health and Retirement Benefits
Bar chart showing reasons for off-farm jobs, comparing small family farms, midsize family farms, and large-scale family farms. Includes health benefits as one reason for off-farm employment.
Date: 06/2020
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?
Examines the travel behaviors, employment status, and health of rural and urban residents with travel-related disabilities. Explores the use of public transit and other transportation services by rural and urban residence.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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How will the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?
Fact sheet discussing ways in which rural people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 recession. Analyzes data from the 2015 and 2016 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making and the American Time Use Survey 2017-18 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Features statistics on numbers of people with disabilities who have emergency funds, paid sick leave, and jobs that can be done from home, with breakdowns by rural or metropolitan location.
Author(s): Bryce Ward, Andrew Myers, Catherine Ipsen, Lauren Smith
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Fatal Opioid Overdoses in the United States: Findings from the Mortality Disparities in American Communities Study (MDAC)
Highlights a study that correlates demographic and socioeconomic status with opioid overdose fatalities. Draws data from the Mortality Disparities in American Community Study (MDAC) and compares results by rural/nonrural residence, race, employment, and educational attainment, among other measures.
Author(s): Sean F. Altekruse, Candace M. Cosgrove, William C. Altekruse, Richard A. Jenkins, Carlos Blanco
Citation: PLoS One, 15(1)
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
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Employment Has Grown Faster in Metropolitan Than Nonmetro Counties Since the Great Recession
Line chart showing metropolitan and nonmetro employment growth from 2007 through 2019.
Date: 11/2019
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Older Population in Rural America: 2012-2016
Describes the rural older population, those 65 years and older, compared to urban older adults. Includes rural-urban data on population size for the nation, by region, and by state. Also covers demographic, social, and economic characteristics, age distribution, and sex ratio by age. Some data is available by level of rurality for mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural counties.
Author(s): Amy Symens Smith, Edward Trevelyan
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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