Figure 5: Low-wage employment sectors saw the biggest layoffs, slowest recovery

Employment relative to 2019 levels

Sectors of employment are divided into wage tiers using average weekly wages for each sector in 2019. Each group contains approximately one third of the 2019 workforce. Low-wage sectors are those where average wages are below $787 per week; “middle-wage” sectors are those with average wages between $800 and $1,159 per week; “high wage sectors are those with average wages above $1,159 per week.
Source: MECEP analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, Small Area Employment data Get the data