Bearing the Brunt: Where NYC’s Hard-Hit Sector Workers Live

Report - May 2020

Bearing the Brunt: Where NYC’s Hard-Hit Sector Workers Live

While coronavirus has devastated much of NYC's economy, our research shows that the impacts are not equally dispersed across the city: workers in the most hard-hit sectors—including restaurants, hotels, retail, and personal care services—predominantly live in lower-income neighborhoods outside Manhattan.

by Jonathan Bowles and Charles Shaviro

Tags: economic growth human capital boroughs

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the economy to a halt in neighborhoods throughout New York City, affecting cooks working at East Village restaurants, porters at Times Square hotels, cashiers at souvenir shops outside Yankee Stadium, and manicurists at nail salons in Brooklyn Heights. But a closer look at where New York’s workforce lives suggests that the economic devastation from this crisis has not been equally dispersed across the city. While fewer than 10 percent of residents on the Upper East Side and Park Slope work in the four industries where layoffs have been most prevalent—restaurants, hotels, retail, and personal care services—the share is 27 percent in Elmhurst, 25 percent in Corona, and 24 percent in Norwood, Highbridge, Sunset Park, and Flushing.¹

In fact, while more than half of the jobs (51 percent) in these four hard-hit industries are physically located in Manhattan, 81 percent of the workers in these sectors live in the four other boroughs. As one example, 101,511 Bronx residents work in these fields, though the borough is home to barely half the jobs (51,183).

The neighborhoods with the greatest share of residents working in these hard-hit sectors are all located either in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Northern Manhattan—and all have a much higher share of non-white residents than the city average. For instance, in the two neighborhoods with the greatest share of residents working in these sectors—Elmhurst/South Corona and Jackson Heights/North Corona—90 percent or more of the population is non-white and over 60 percent is foreign born.²

Overall, there are 13 neighborhoods (out of 55 Census-defined neighborhoods in the city) where at least 20 percent of the working residents are employed in these industries. Four are in the Bronx, four are in Queens, two are in Brooklyn, and two are in Northern Manhattan. In all 13 of the neighborhoods, at least 71 percent of the population is non-white. In 5 of the 13, at least 90 percent is non-white. And in 9 of the 13, at least 45 percent is foreign-born. In contrast, in each of the five neighborhoods with the lowest share of residents working in these four industries, the population is at least 64 percent white and no more than 25 percent foreign born.

Other findings include:

The 10 neighborhoods with the greatest share of residents employed in the four hard-hit industries are:

Elmhurst/South Corona – 27%
North Corona/Jackson Heights – 25%
Norwood/Bedford Park/Fordham North – 24%
Highbridge/Concourse/Mount Eden – 24%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace – 24%
Flushing/Whitestone/Murray Hill – 24%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope – 22%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose – 22%
Woodside/Sunnyside – 21%
East Harlem – 21%

The 10 neighborhoods with the lowest share of residents employed in the four hard-hit industries are:

Upper West Side / West Side – 9%
Upper East Side – 9%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook – 10%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvesant Town – 11%
Soho/Greenwich Village/Battery Park City – 11%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene – 11%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale – 12%
Canarsie/Flatlands – 12%
Breezy Point/Broad Channel/Far Rockaway – 12%
Chelsea/Midtown – 13%

In raw numbers, Flushing has the most residents (23,076) employed in the four sectors, followed by Washington Heights (20,331) and Corona (19,442).
Whereas 304,413 jobs in these four hard-hit sectors are physically located in Manhattan, a much lower number of Manhattan residents (113,958) are employed in these industries.

Our complete findings by neighborhood are included in interactive, sortable tables at the end of this report.

Where NYC restaurant workers live

16 percent of Elmhurst residents work at restaurants and bars, the highest share of any neighborhood in the city. Other neighborhoods with a large share of residents working in this sector include Corona (13 percent), Sunset Park (12 percent), Hunts Point (11 percent), and Norwood (11 percent).
In contrast, just 1 percent of Upper East Side residents work in the restaurants sector. The workforce share is similarly low in Greenwich Village (2 percent), Upper West Side (2 percent), Midtown East (2 percent) and Tottenville (3 percent).
In overall numbers, Corona has the most residents working in the restaurants sector (10,593). Washington Heights has the next highest total (9,953).
56 percent of all restaurant jobs in the city (127,530) are physically located in Manhattan, but only 17 percent of the sector’s workforce lives in Manhattan (39,286). In contrast, roughly a third of restaurant workers live in Queens (32 percent – or 74,312 workers) even though the borough has just 16 percent of restaurant jobs (37,405).

Where NYC hotel workers live

No other neighborhood in the city is home to more hotel workers than Jamaica. It has 1,231 residents working in the accommodations sector, nearly five times as many as Greenwich Village (261).
Richmond Hill (1.6 percent) and Co-op City (1.5 percent) have the highest share of residents working in the accommodations industry.
Two thirds (67 percent) of the city’s hotel jobs are located in Manhattan, but 80 percent of the New Yorkers working in those jobs live in the other four boroughs. For example while just 9 percent of the city’s accommodations jobs are physically located in Brooklyn, nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all hotel workers live in the borough.

Where NYC retail workers live

Kensington and Highbridge have the largest share of residents working in the retail sector (in both neighborhoods, 11 percent of the workforce are employed in retail), followed by East Harlem, Morris Heights, Bayside, Norwood, and Flushing (all at 10 percent).
In raw numbers, Flushing has the most residents employed in the retail sector (9,493).
79 percent of the New Yorkers working in retail live in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Staten Island, even though nearly half (47 percent) of retail jobs are located in Manhattan.

Where NYC nail salon, beauty salon and other personal care workers live

Flushing has by far the most residents working in the personal care services sector. Nearly twice as many personal care workers (3,799) live in Flushing than in the neighborhood with the second highest total (Washington Heights – with 1,998).
In contrast, just 346 residents of Park Slope work in the industry.
Flushing also has the highest share of residents working in personal care services (3.9 percent). Other neighborhoods with the greatest share of residents employed in the sector include Corona (2.5 percent), Elmhurst (2.2 percent), and Sunset Park (2.1 percent).
In each of the six neighborhoods with the highest share of residents working in personal care services, at least 45 percent of the population is foreign born.
Manhattan is home to 39 percent of the city’s personal care services jobs. However, just 17 percent of the workers in the sector live in Manhattan.

Residents Working in Restaurants/Food Service, Retail, Accommodations & Personal Care Services, by Neighborhood
Neighborhood	Number of Residents Employed in Hard-Hit Occupations	% of Employed Residents Working in Hard-Hit Occupations	Number of Employed Residents	% Non-White	% Foreign-Born	Median Household Income	% Bachelor's degree, or Higher
Elmhurst/South Corona	16795	26.9%	62463	93.9%	64.1%	$49,078	25.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona	19442	24.6%	79042	89.6%	61.0%	$55,852	22.8%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood	12325	24.2%	50942	94.2%	46.6%	$35,535	17.8%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden	12275	23.9%	51341	98.1%	45.6%	$29,938	19.1%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace	15111	23.9%	63248	75.6%	48.4%	$55,317	36.5%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone	23076	23.7%	97267	74.6%	57.3%	$54,386	31.1%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope	10747	22.3%	48231	98.9%	44.9%	$26,976	14.3%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose	10667	21.9%	48810	97.9%	30.8%	$24,849	16.5%
Sunnyside/Woodside	14867	21.0%	70714	71.1%	55.5%	$66,705	44.3%
East Harlem	10140	21.0%	48371	86.3%	25.1%	$33,564	42.9%
Bushwick	13008	20.7%	62883	81.1%	32.3%	$47,569	40.6%
Washington Heights/Inwood	20331	20.5%	98999	81.2%	48.9%	$52,051	40.3%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester	13722	19.8%	69244	97.1%	35.3%	$40,114	21.4%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights	10717	19.2%	55959	45.4%	40.6%	$67,986	49.8%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem	11187	18.9%	59161	72.5%	36.6%	$50,867	53.2%
Astoria/Long Island City	15886	18.5%	85770	51.8%	41.2%	$63,592	57.4%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont	10040	18.4%	54675	96.0%	32.8%	$25,595	17.3%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven	11799	18.3%	64591	82.3%	52.9%	$67,914	30.7%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway	9936	18.3%	54414	28.9%	31.4%	$47,294	33.9%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest	11928	18.0%	66125	69.9%	47.1%	$65,679	43.3%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park	9078	18.0%	50561	78.0%	37.5%	$50,877	28.9%
East New York/Starrett City	10666	17.5%	60799	96.2%	37.1%	$37,999	18.7%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach	14157	17.5%	80984	59.9%	57.2%	$53,198	35.7%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck	8151	17.3%	47244	60.7%	44.6%	$82,805	48.9%
Lower East Side/Chinatown	11734	17.1%	68605	66.6%	35.6%	$43,705	60.5%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest	10416	16.6%	62787	34.5%	51.8%	$60,814	46.7%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay	7545	16.4%	45956	72.5%	22.0%	$59,798	32.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge	7003	16.2%	43159	67.6%	34.6%	$59,995	44.6%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor	11056	16.0%	69060	62.2%	26.1%	$64,666	35.7%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village	13645	15.9%	85867	48.2%	40.6%	$73,644	33.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill	6458	15.7%	41181	97.4%	31.6%	$28,862	21.5%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield	8109	15.7%	51807	93.6%	43.0%	$51,581	30.1%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park	8763	15.6%	56009	78.1%	46.5%	$72,400	27.8%
Bedford-Stuyvesant	9999	15.6%	64185	74.0%	20.2%	$47,706	43.9%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island	6369	15.4%	41264	44.1%	54.0%	$38,065	42.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans	14408	15.2%	94580	98.2%	43.1%	$62,228	24.4%
Central Harlem	8931	14.7%	60702	85.8%	23.9%	$47,341	49.0%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint	11800	14.5%	81292	37.0%	25.1%	$71,248	62.0%
Flatbush/Midwood	9791	14.2%	69159	59.3%	43.1%	$55,569	41.4%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S	7097	14.0%	50836	77.2%	43.1%	$50,765	39.5%
New Springville/South Beach	7266	13.2%	55102	33.9%	30.1%	$81,479	40.1%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby	7971	13.0%	61104	97.3%	52.3%	$52,291	29.2%
Forest Hills/Rego Park	6823	13.0%	52445	52.3%	52.0%	$74,618	63.6%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North	8264	12.9%	64085	77.7%	29.2%	$52,917	50.7%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale	8561	12.7%	67296	17.2%	17.1%	$91,431	42.1%
Midtown/Chelsea	12069	12.6%	95899	40.5%	31.3%	$104,801	81.2%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel	5104	12.3%	41623	65.7%	27.8%	$53,968	37.1%
Canarsie/Flatlands	11090	12.1%	91611	77.3%	42.8%	$74,840	37.4%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale	9326	12.1%	77144	89.1%	44.0%	$85,266	33.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene	7988	10.9%	73489	53.6%	20.6%	$93,434	72.4%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village	9773	10.7%	91456	27.7%	25.4%	$140,213	87.4%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town	9352	10.6%	88275	30.4%	24.5%	$117,921	88.2%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook	6263	9.8%	64161	35.7%	18.5%	$122,002	81.7%
Upper East Side	11143	9.4%	118648	24.7%	24.0%	$120,868	87.8%
West Side/Upper West Side	9298	9.4%	99276	31.8%	24.2%	$117,421	82.6%

Residents Working in Restaurants/Food Service, by Neighborhood
Neighborhood	Number of Residents Employed in Food Services Jobs	% of Employed Residents Working in Food Services Jobs	Number of Employed Residents	% Non-White	% Foreign-Born	Median Household Income	%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Elmhurst/South Corona	9674	15.5%	62463	93.9%	64.1%	$49,078	25.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona	10593	13.4%	79042	89.6%	61.0%	$55,852	22.8%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace	7845	12.4%	63248	75.6%	48.4%	$55,317	36.5%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose	5521	11.3%	48810	97.9%	30.8%	$24,849	16.5%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood	5599	11.0%	50942	94.2%	46.6%	$35,535	17.8%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden	5620	10.9%	51341	98.1%	45.6%	$29,938	19.1%
Sunnyside/Woodside	7451	10.5%	70714	71.1%	55.5%	$66,705	44.3%
Washington Heights/Inwood	9953	10.1%	98999	81.2%	48.9%	$52,051	40.3%
Bushwick	6195	9.9%	62883	81.1%	32.3%	$47,569	40.6%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope	4594	9.5%	48231	98.9%	44.9%	$26,976	14.3%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem	5579	9.4%	59161	72.5%	36.6%	$50,867	53.2%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone	8684	8.9%	97267	74.6%	57.3%	$54,386	31.1%
East Harlem	4301	8.9%	48371	86.3%	25.1%	$33,564	42.9%
Astoria/Long Island City	7343	8.6%	85770	51.8%	41.2%	$63,592	57.4%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester	5652	8.2%	69244	97.1%	35.3%	$40,114	21.4%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights	4497	8.0%	55959	45.4%	40.6%	$67,986	49.8%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven	4737	7.3%	64591	82.3%	52.9%	$67,914	30.7%
Lower East Side/Chinatown	4963	7.2%	68605	66.6%	35.6%	$43,705	60.5%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach	5690	7.0%	80984	59.9%	57.2%	$53,198	35.7%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont	3754	6.9%	54675	96.0%	32.8%	$25,595	17.3%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge	2935	6.8%	43159	67.6%	34.6%	$59,995	44.6%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park	3327	6.6%	50561	78.0%	37.5%	$50,877	28.9%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest	4335	6.6%	66125	69.9%	47.1%	$65,679	43.3%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village	5578	6.5%	85867	48.2%	40.6%	$73,644	33.2%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay	2782	6.1%	45956	72.5%	22.0%	$59,798	32.7%
Bedford-Stuyvesant	3865	6.0%	64185	74.0%	20.2%	$47,706	43.9%
Central Harlem	3627	6.0%	60702	85.8%	23.9%	$47,341	49.0%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway	3101	5.7%	54414	28.9%	31.4%	$47,294	33.9%
East New York/Starrett City	3381	5.6%	60799	96.2%	37.1%	$37,999	18.7%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield	2846	5.5%	51807	93.6%	43.0%	$51,581	30.1%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill	2222	5.4%	41181	97.4%	31.6%	$28,862	21.5%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island	2168	5.3%	41264	44.1%	54.0%	$38,065	42.5%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor	3595	5.2%	69060	62.2%	26.1%	$64,666	35.7%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint	4196	5.2%	81292	37.0%	25.1%	$71,248	62.0%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S	2614	5.1%	50836	77.2%	43.1%	$50,765	39.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans	4862	5.1%	94580	98.2%	43.1%	$62,228	24.4%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest	3121	5.0%	62787	34.5%	51.8%	$60,814	46.7%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park	2709	4.8%	56009	78.1%	46.5%	$72,400	27.8%
Flatbush/Midwood	3318	4.8%	69159	59.3%	43.1%	$55,569	41.4%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck	2234	4.7%	47244	60.7%	44.6%	$82,805	48.9%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North	2862	4.5%	64085	77.7%	29.2%	$52,917	50.7%
New Springville/South Beach	2448	4.4%	55102	33.9%	30.1%	$81,479	40.1%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby	2704	4.4%	61104	97.3%	52.3%	$52,291	29.2%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel	1645	4.0%	41623	65.7%	27.8%	$53,968	37.1%
Midtown/Chelsea	3407	3.6%	95899	40.5%	31.3%	$104,801	81.2%
Canarsie/Flatlands	3248	3.5%	91611	77.3%	42.8%	$74,840	37.4%
Forest Hills/Rego Park	1839	3.5%	52445	52.3%	52.0%	$74,618	63.6%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale	2628	3.4%	77144	89.1%	44.0%	$85,266	33.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene	2407	3.3%	73489	53.6%	20.6%	$93,434	72.4%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook	2059	3.2%	64161	35.7%	18.5%	$122,002	81.7%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale	2029	3.0%	67296	17.2%	17.1%	$91,431	42.1%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town	2110	2.4%	88275	30.4%	24.5%	$117,921	88.2%
West Side/Upper West Side	2071	2.1%	99276	31.8%	24.2%	$117,421	82.6%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village	1826	2.0%	91456	27.7%	25.4%	$140,213	87.4%
Upper East Side	1449	1.2%	118648	24.7%	24.0%	$120,868	87.8%

Residents Working in Retail, by Neighborhood
Neighborhood	Number of Residents Employed in Retail Jobs	% of Employed Residents Working in Retail Trade Jobs	Number of Employed Residents	% Non-White	% Foreign-Born	Median Household Income	%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway	5914	10.9%	54414	28.9%	31.4%	$47,294	33.9%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden	5367	10.5%	51341	98.1%	45.6%	$29,938	19.1%
East Harlem	4962	10.3%	48371	86.3%	25.1%	$33,564	42.9%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope	4925	10.2%	48231	98.9%	44.9%	$26,976	14.3%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck	4787	10.1%	47244	60.7%	44.6%	$82,805	48.9%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood	5111	10.0%	50942	94.2%	46.6%	$35,535	17.8%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone	9493	9.8%	97267	74.6%	57.3%	$54,386	31.1%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest	6355	9.6%	66125	69.9%	47.1%	$65,679	43.3%
East New York/Starrett City	5779	9.5%	60799	96.2%	37.1%	$37,999	18.7%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester	6421	9.3%	69244	97.1%	35.3%	$40,114	21.4%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest	5801	9.2%	62787	34.5%	51.8%	$60,814	46.7%
Bushwick	5799	9.2%	62883	81.1%	32.3%	$47,569	40.6%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor	6236	9.0%	69060	62.2%	26.1%	$64,666	35.7%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park	5019	9.0%	56009	78.1%	46.5%	$72,400	27.8%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park	4486	8.9%	50561	78.0%	37.5%	$50,877	28.9%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont	4771	8.7%	54675	96.0%	32.8%	$25,595	17.3%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island	3567	8.6%	41264	44.1%	54.0%	$38,065	42.5%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights	4828	8.6%	55959	45.4%	40.6%	$67,986	49.8%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose	4210	8.6%	48810	97.9%	30.8%	$24,849	16.5%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace	5443	8.6%	63248	75.6%	48.4%	$55,317	36.5%
Elmhurst/South Corona	5213	8.3%	62463	93.9%	64.1%	$49,078	25.5%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven	5308	8.2%	64591	82.3%	52.9%	$67,914	30.7%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach	6586	8.1%	80984	59.9%	57.2%	$53,198	35.7%
Bedford-Stuyvesant	5216	8.1%	64185	74.0%	20.2%	$47,706	43.9%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay	3697	8.0%	45956	72.5%	22.0%	$59,798	32.7%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill	3255	7.9%	41181	97.4%	31.6%	$28,862	21.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans	7465	7.9%	94580	98.2%	43.1%	$62,228	24.4%
Astoria/Long Island City	6764	7.9%	85770	51.8%	41.2%	$63,592	57.4%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint	6410	7.9%	81292	37.0%	25.1%	$71,248	62.0%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale	5262	7.8%	67296	17.2%	17.1%	$91,431	42.1%
Jackson Heights/North Corona	6135	7.8%	79042	89.6%	61.0%	$55,852	22.8%
Sunnyside/Woodside	5482	7.8%	70714	71.1%	55.5%	$66,705	44.3%
Lower East Side/Chinatown	5314	7.7%	68605	66.6%	35.6%	$43,705	60.5%
Flatbush/Midwood	5291	7.7%	69159	59.3%	43.1%	$55,569	41.4%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village	6960	7.6%	91456	27.7%	25.4%	$140,213	87.4%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield	3901	7.5%	51807	93.6%	43.0%	$51,581	30.1%
Washington Heights/Inwood	7417	7.5%	98999	81.2%	48.9%	$52,051	40.3%
Midtown/Chelsea	7024	7.3%	95899	40.5%	31.3%	$104,801	81.2%
Upper East Side	8542	7.2%	118648	24.7%	24.0%	$120,868	87.8%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S	3639	7.2%	50836	77.2%	43.1%	$50,765	39.5%
Central Harlem	4344	7.2%	60702	85.8%	23.9%	$47,341	49.0%
Canarsie/Flatlands	6455	7.0%	91611	77.3%	42.8%	$74,840	37.4%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby	4295	7.0%	61104	97.3%	52.3%	$52,291	29.2%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem	4150	7.0%	59161	72.5%	36.6%	$50,867	53.2%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village	5963	6.9%	85867	48.2%	40.6%	$73,644	33.2%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale	5279	6.8%	77144	89.1%	44.0%	$85,266	33.6%
New Springville/South Beach	3695	6.7%	55102	33.9%	30.1%	$81,479	40.1%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge	2881	6.7%	43159	67.6%	34.6%	$59,995	44.6%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North	4178	6.5%	64085	77.7%	29.2%	$52,917	50.7%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town	5722	6.5%	88275	30.4%	24.5%	$117,921	88.2%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene	4716	6.4%	73489	53.6%	20.6%	$93,434	72.4%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel	2611	6.3%	41623	65.7%	27.8%	$53,968	37.1%
Forest Hills/Rego Park	3275	6.2%	52445	52.3%	52.0%	$74,618	63.6%
West Side/Upper West Side	6175	6.2%	99276	31.8%	24.2%	$117,421	82.6%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook	3577	5.6%	64161	35.7%	18.5%	$122,002	81.7%

Residents Working in Accommodations, by Neighborhood
Neighborhood	Number of Residents Employed in Accommodations Jobs	% of Employed Residents Working in Accommodations Jobs	Number of Employed Residents	% Non-White	% Foreign-Born	Median Household Income	%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven	1010	1.6%	64591	82.3%	52.9%	$67,914	30.7%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay	691	1.5%	45956	72.5%	22.0%	$59,798	32.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge	605	1.4%	43159	67.6%	34.6%	$59,995	44.6%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park	728	1.4%	50561	78.0%	37.5%	$50,877	28.9%
Sunnyside/Woodside	1008	1.4%	70714	71.1%	55.5%	$66,705	44.3%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale	972	1.3%	77144	89.1%	44.0%	$85,266	33.6%
Forest Hills/Rego Park	688	1.3%	52445	52.3%	52.0%	$74,618	63.6%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans	1231	1.3%	94580	98.2%	43.1%	$62,228	24.4%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester	819	1.2%	69244	97.1%	35.3%	$40,114	21.4%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem	681	1.2%	59161	72.5%	36.6%	$50,867	53.2%
Midtown/Chelsea	1105	1.2%	95899	40.5%	31.3%	$104,801	81.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill	502	1.2%	41181	97.4%	31.6%	$28,862	21.5%
East New York/Starrett City	751	1.2%	60799	96.2%	37.1%	$37,999	18.7%
Astoria/Long Island City	1038	1.2%	85770	51.8%	41.2%	$63,592	57.4%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood	578	1.1%	50942	94.2%	46.6%	$35,535	17.8%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose	538	1.1%	48810	97.9%	30.8%	$24,849	16.5%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone	1100	1.1%	97267	74.6%	57.3%	$54,386	31.1%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village	977	1.1%	85867	48.2%	40.6%	$73,644	33.2%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont	525	1.0%	54675	96.0%	32.8%	$25,595	17.3%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope	478	1.0%	48231	98.9%	44.9%	$26,976	14.3%
Washington Heights/Inwood	963	1.0%	98999	81.2%	48.9%	$52,051	40.3%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights	585	1.0%	55959	45.4%	40.6%	$67,986	49.8%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck	455	1.0%	47244	60.7%	44.6%	$82,805	48.9%
East Harlem	459	0.9%	48371	86.3%	25.1%	$33,564	42.9%
Lower East Side/Chinatown	606	0.9%	68605	66.6%	35.6%	$43,705	60.5%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S	464	0.9%	50836	77.2%	43.1%	$50,765	39.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona	729	0.9%	79042	89.6%	61.0%	$55,852	22.8%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park	518	0.9%	56009	78.1%	46.5%	$72,400	27.8%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town	669	0.8%	88275	30.4%	24.5%	$117,921	88.2%
Canarsie/Flatlands	701	0.8%	91611	77.3%	42.8%	$74,840	37.4%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace	497	0.8%	63248	75.6%	48.4%	$55,317	36.5%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach	632	0.8%	80984	59.9%	57.2%	$53,198	35.7%
Elmhurst/South Corona	513	0.8%	62463	93.9%	64.1%	$49,078	25.5%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield	352	0.7%	51807	93.6%	43.0%	$51,581	30.1%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest	470	0.7%	66125	69.9%	47.1%	$65,679	43.3%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel	279	0.7%	41623	65.7%	27.8%	$53,968	37.1%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden	312	0.6%	51341	98.1%	45.6%	$29,938	19.1%
Upper East Side	746	0.6%	118648	24.7%	24.0%	$120,868	87.8%
West Side/Upper West Side	585	0.6%	99276	31.8%	24.2%	$117,421	82.6%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale	384	0.6%	67296	17.2%	17.1%	$91,431	42.1%
Bushwick	362	0.6%	62883	81.1%	32.3%	$47,569	40.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene	445	0.6%	73489	53.6%	20.6%	$93,434	72.4%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North	353	0.6%	64085	77.7%	29.2%	$52,917	50.7%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway	327	0.6%	54414	28.9%	31.4%	$47,294	33.9%
Flatbush/Midwood	426	0.6%	69159	59.3%	43.1%	$55,569	41.4%
New Springville/South Beach	300	0.5%	55102	33.9%	30.1%	$81,479	40.1%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor	379	0.5%	69060	62.2%	26.1%	$64,666	35.7%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island	211	0.5%	41264	44.1%	54.0%	$38,065	42.5%
Central Harlem	233	0.4%	60702	85.8%	23.9%	$47,341	49.0%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint	318	0.4%	81292	37.0%	25.1%	$71,248	62.0%
Bedford-Stuyvesant	284	0.4%	64185	74.0%	20.2%	$47,706	43.9%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook	281	0.4%	64161	35.7%	18.5%	$122,002	81.7%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby	248	0.4%	61104	97.3%	52.3%	$52,291	29.2%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest	272	0.4%	62787	34.5%	51.8%	$60,814	46.7%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village	261	0.3%	91456	27.7%	25.4%	$140,213	87.4%

Residents Working in Personal Care Services, by Neighborhood
Neighborhood	Number of Residents Employed in Personal Care Services Jobs	% of Employed Residents Working in Personal Care Services Jobs	Number of Employed Residents	% Non-White	% Foreign-Born	Median Household Income	%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone	3799	3.9%	97267	74.6%	57.3%	$54,386	31.1%
Jackson Heights/North Corona	1985	2.5%	79042	89.6%	61.0%	$55,852	22.8%
Elmhurst/South Corona	1395	2.2%	62463	93.9%	64.1%	$49,078	25.5%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace	1326	2.1%	63248	75.6%	48.4%	$55,317	36.5%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood	1037	2.0%	50942	94.2%	46.6%	$35,535	17.8%
Washington Heights/Inwood	1998	2.0%	98999	81.2%	48.9%	$52,051	40.3%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield	1010	1.9%	51807	93.6%	43.0%	$51,581	30.1%
Forest Hills/Rego Park	1021	1.9%	52445	52.3%	52.0%	$74,618	63.6%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest	1222	1.9%	62787	34.5%	51.8%	$60,814	46.7%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden	976	1.9%	51341	98.1%	45.6%	$29,938	19.1%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont	990	1.8%	54675	96.0%	32.8%	$25,595	17.3%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope	750	1.6%	48231	98.9%	44.9%	$26,976	14.3%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach	1249	1.5%	80984	59.9%	57.2%	$53,198	35.7%
New Springville/South Beach	823	1.5%	55102	33.9%	30.1%	$81,479	40.1%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights	807	1.4%	55959	45.4%	40.6%	$67,986	49.8%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck	675	1.4%	47244	60.7%	44.6%	$82,805	48.9%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel	569	1.4%	41623	65.7%	27.8%	$53,968	37.1%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North	871	1.4%	64085	77.7%	29.2%	$52,917	50.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge	582	1.3%	43159	67.6%	34.6%	$59,995	44.6%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale	886	1.3%	67296	17.2%	17.1%	$91,431	42.1%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem	777	1.3%	59161	72.5%	36.6%	$50,867	53.2%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village	1127	1.3%	85867	48.2%	40.6%	$73,644	33.2%
Sunnyside/Woodside	926	1.3%	70714	71.1%	55.5%	$66,705	44.3%
East New York/Starrett City	755	1.2%	60799	96.2%	37.1%	$37,999	18.7%
Lower East Side/Chinatown	851	1.2%	68605	66.6%	35.6%	$43,705	60.5%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor	846	1.2%	69060	62.2%	26.1%	$64,666	35.7%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester	830	1.2%	69244	97.1%	35.3%	$40,114	21.4%
Central Harlem	727	1.2%	60702	85.8%	23.9%	$47,341	49.0%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby	724	1.2%	61104	97.3%	52.3%	$52,291	29.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill	479	1.2%	41181	97.4%	31.6%	$28,862	21.5%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest	768	1.2%	66125	69.9%	47.1%	$65,679	43.3%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven	744	1.2%	64591	82.3%	52.9%	$67,914	30.7%
Flatbush/Midwood	756	1.1%	69159	59.3%	43.1%	$55,569	41.4%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway	594	1.1%	54414	28.9%	31.4%	$47,294	33.9%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint	876	1.1%	81292	37.0%	25.1%	$71,248	62.0%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park	537	1.1%	50561	78.0%	37.5%	$50,877	28.9%
Bushwick	652	1.0%	62883	81.1%	32.3%	$47,569	40.6%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island	423	1.0%	41264	44.1%	54.0%	$38,065	42.5%
Bedford-Stuyvesant	634	1.0%	64185	74.0%	20.2%	$47,706	43.9%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town	851	1.0%	88275	30.4%	24.5%	$117,921	88.2%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park	517	0.9%	56009	78.1%	46.5%	$72,400	27.8%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans	850	0.9%	94580	98.2%	43.1%	$62,228	24.4%
East Harlem	418	0.9%	48371	86.3%	25.1%	$33,564	42.9%
Astoria/Long Island City	741	0.9%	85770	51.8%	41.2%	$63,592	57.4%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay	375	0.8%	45956	72.5%	22.0%	$59,798	32.7%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose	398	0.8%	48810	97.9%	30.8%	$24,849	16.5%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village	726	0.8%	91456	27.7%	25.4%	$140,213	87.4%
Canarsie/Flatlands	686	0.7%	91611	77.3%	42.8%	$74,840	37.4%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S	380	0.7%	50836	77.2%	43.1%	$50,765	39.5%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale	447	0.6%	77144	89.1%	44.0%	$85,266	33.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene	420	0.6%	73489	53.6%	20.6%	$93,434	72.4%
Midtown/Chelsea	533	0.6%	95899	40.5%	31.3%	$104,801	81.2%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook	346	0.5%	64161	35.7%	18.5%	$122,002	81.7%
West Side/Upper West Side	467	0.5%	99276	31.8%	24.2%	$117,421	82.6%
Upper East Side	406	0.3%	118648	24.7%	24.0%	$120,868	87.8%

Notes

1. For this report, we conduct an analysis of occupation data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, on the borough and neighborhood level, to assess where the city's hardest-hit workers in the restaurants, retail trade, accommodations, and personal care services industries live and work. We leverage the 2018 census occupational classification system in conjunction with the Census Bureau's Public Use Microdata Areas — which line up with the city's 59 community districts. Please note we use restaurants as shorthand for the “food services and drinking places” sector and hotels as shorthand for the accommodations sector.

The included occupations are as follows:

Restaurants/Food Services: Food service managers; Chefs and head cooks; First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers; Cooks; Bartenders; Food preparation workers; Fast food and counter workers; Waiters and waitresses; Food servers, nonrestaurant; Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers; Dishwashers; Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop; Food preparation and serving related workers, all other.
Retail: Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products; First-line supervisors of retail sales workers; First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers; Cashiers; Counter and rental clerks; Parts salespersons; Retail salespersons; Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel; Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing; Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers; Sales and related workers, all other.
Accommodations: Lodging managers; Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges; Tour and travel guides; Travel agents; Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks; Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks.
Personal Care Services: Barbers, Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists; Manicurists and pedicurists; Skincare specialists; Other personal appearance workers; Personal care and service workers, all other.

2. Citywide, 67.8 percent of the population is non-white and 38.6 percent is foreign born.

1 2 >

Report - May 2020

Bearing the Brunt: Where NYC’s Hard-Hit Sector Workers Live

Related Press

Related Publications

Related Events

Related Press

View More Related Press

Related Press

Search

@nycfuture

CUF in the News

View More Press

Content

Topics

Follow

Support

Center for an
Urban Future

Report - May 2020

Bearing the Brunt: Where NYC’s Hard-Hit Sector Workers Live

Related Press

Related Publications

Related Events

Related Press

View More Related Press

Related Press

Search

@nycfuture

CUF in the News

View More Press

Content

Topics

Follow

Support

Center for an Urban Future

Center for an
Urban Future