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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:

  1. Elmhurst/South Corona – 27%
  2. North Corona/Jackson Heights – 25%
  3. Norwood/Bedford Park/Fordham North – 24%
  4. Highbridge/Concourse/Mount Eden – 24%
  5. Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace – 24%
  6. Flushing/Whitestone/Murray Hill – 24%
  7. Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope – 22%
  8. Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose – 22%
  9. Woodside/Sunnyside – 21%
  10. East Harlem – 21%

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

  1. Upper West Side / West Side – 9%
  2. Upper East Side – 9%
  3. Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook – 10%
  4. Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvesant Town – 11%
  5. Soho/Greenwich Village/Battery Park City – 11%
  6. Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene – 11%
  7. Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale – 12%
  8. Canarsie/Flatlands – 12%
  9. Breezy Point/Broad Channel/Far Rockaway – 12%
  10. 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
NeighborhoodNumber of Residents Employed in Hard-Hit Occupations% of Employed Residents Working in Hard-Hit OccupationsNumber of Employed Residents% Non-White% Foreign-BornMedian Household Income% Bachelor's degree, or Higher
Elmhurst/South Corona1679526.9%6246393.9%64.1%$49,07825.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona1944224.6%7904289.6%61.0%$55,85222.8%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood1232524.2%5094294.2%46.6%$35,53517.8%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden1227523.9%5134198.1%45.6%$29,93819.1%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace1511123.9%6324875.6%48.4%$55,31736.5%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone2307623.7%9726774.6%57.3%$54,38631.1%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope1074722.3%4823198.9%44.9%$26,97614.3%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose1066721.9%4881097.9%30.8%$24,84916.5%
Sunnyside/Woodside1486721.0%7071471.1%55.5%$66,70544.3%
East Harlem1014021.0%4837186.3%25.1%$33,56442.9%
Bushwick1300820.7%6288381.1%32.3%$47,56940.6%
Washington Heights/Inwood2033120.5%9899981.2%48.9%$52,05140.3%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester1372219.8%6924497.1%35.3%$40,11421.4%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights1071719.2%5595945.4%40.6%$67,98649.8%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem1118718.9%5916172.5%36.6%$50,86753.2%
Astoria/Long Island City1588618.5%8577051.8%41.2%$63,59257.4%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont1004018.4%5467596.0%32.8%$25,59517.3%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven1179918.3%6459182.3%52.9%$67,91430.7%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway993618.3%5441428.9%31.4%$47,29433.9%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest1192818.0%6612569.9%47.1%$65,67943.3%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park907818.0%5056178.0%37.5%$50,87728.9%
East New York/Starrett City1066617.5%6079996.2%37.1%$37,99918.7%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach1415717.5%8098459.9%57.2%$53,19835.7%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck815117.3%4724460.7%44.6%$82,80548.9%
Lower East Side/Chinatown1173417.1%6860566.6%35.6%$43,70560.5%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest1041616.6%6278734.5%51.8%$60,81446.7%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay754516.4%4595672.5%22.0%$59,79832.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge700316.2%4315967.6%34.6%$59,99544.6%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor1105616.0%6906062.2%26.1%$64,66635.7%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village1364515.9%8586748.2%40.6%$73,64433.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill645815.7%4118197.4%31.6%$28,86221.5%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield810915.7%5180793.6%43.0%$51,58130.1%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park876315.6%5600978.1%46.5%$72,40027.8%
Bedford-Stuyvesant999915.6%6418574.0%20.2%$47,70643.9%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island636915.4%4126444.1%54.0%$38,06542.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans1440815.2%9458098.2%43.1%$62,22824.4%
Central Harlem893114.7%6070285.8%23.9%$47,34149.0%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint1180014.5%8129237.0%25.1%$71,24862.0%
Flatbush/Midwood979114.2%6915959.3%43.1%$55,56941.4%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S709714.0%5083677.2%43.1%$50,76539.5%
New Springville/South Beach726613.2%5510233.9%30.1%$81,47940.1%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby797113.0%6110497.3%52.3%$52,29129.2%
Forest Hills/Rego Park682313.0%5244552.3%52.0%$74,61863.6%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North826412.9%6408577.7%29.2%$52,91750.7%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale856112.7%6729617.2%17.1%$91,43142.1%
Midtown/Chelsea1206912.6%9589940.5%31.3%$104,80181.2%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel510412.3%4162365.7%27.8%$53,96837.1%
Canarsie/Flatlands1109012.1%9161177.3%42.8%$74,84037.4%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale932612.1%7714489.1%44.0%$85,26633.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene798810.9%7348953.6%20.6%$93,43472.4%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village977310.7%9145627.7%25.4%$140,21387.4%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town935210.6%8827530.4%24.5%$117,92188.2%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook62639.8%6416135.7%18.5%$122,00281.7%
Upper East Side111439.4%11864824.7%24.0%$120,86887.8%
West Side/Upper West Side92989.4%9927631.8%24.2%$117,42182.6%
Residents Working in Restaurants/Food Service, by Neighborhood
NeighborhoodNumber of Residents Employed in Food Services Jobs% of Employed Residents Working in Food Services JobsNumber of Employed Residents% Non-White% Foreign-BornMedian Household Income%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Elmhurst/South Corona967415.5%6246393.9%64.1%$49,07825.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona1059313.4%7904289.6%61.0%$55,85222.8%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace784512.4%6324875.6%48.4%$55,31736.5%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose552111.3%4881097.9%30.8%$24,84916.5%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood559911.0%5094294.2%46.6%$35,53517.8%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden562010.9%5134198.1%45.6%$29,93819.1%
Sunnyside/Woodside745110.5%7071471.1%55.5%$66,70544.3%
Washington Heights/Inwood995310.1%9899981.2%48.9%$52,05140.3%
Bushwick61959.9%6288381.1%32.3%$47,56940.6%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope45949.5%4823198.9%44.9%$26,97614.3%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem55799.4%5916172.5%36.6%$50,86753.2%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone86848.9%9726774.6%57.3%$54,38631.1%
East Harlem43018.9%4837186.3%25.1%$33,56442.9%
Astoria/Long Island City73438.6%8577051.8%41.2%$63,59257.4%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester56528.2%6924497.1%35.3%$40,11421.4%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights44978.0%5595945.4%40.6%$67,98649.8%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven47377.3%6459182.3%52.9%$67,91430.7%
Lower East Side/Chinatown49637.2%6860566.6%35.6%$43,70560.5%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach56907.0%8098459.9%57.2%$53,19835.7%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont37546.9%5467596.0%32.8%$25,59517.3%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge29356.8%4315967.6%34.6%$59,99544.6%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park33276.6%5056178.0%37.5%$50,87728.9%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest43356.6%6612569.9%47.1%$65,67943.3%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village55786.5%8586748.2%40.6%$73,64433.2%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay27826.1%4595672.5%22.0%$59,79832.7%
Bedford-Stuyvesant38656.0%6418574.0%20.2%$47,70643.9%
Central Harlem36276.0%6070285.8%23.9%$47,34149.0%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway31015.7%5441428.9%31.4%$47,29433.9%
East New York/Starrett City33815.6%6079996.2%37.1%$37,99918.7%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield28465.5%5180793.6%43.0%$51,58130.1%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill22225.4%4118197.4%31.6%$28,86221.5%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island21685.3%4126444.1%54.0%$38,06542.5%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor35955.2%6906062.2%26.1%$64,66635.7%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint41965.2%8129237.0%25.1%$71,24862.0%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S26145.1%5083677.2%43.1%$50,76539.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans48625.1%9458098.2%43.1%$62,22824.4%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest31215.0%6278734.5%51.8%$60,81446.7%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park27094.8%5600978.1%46.5%$72,40027.8%
Flatbush/Midwood33184.8%6915959.3%43.1%$55,56941.4%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck22344.7%4724460.7%44.6%$82,80548.9%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North28624.5%6408577.7%29.2%$52,91750.7%
New Springville/South Beach24484.4%5510233.9%30.1%$81,47940.1%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby27044.4%6110497.3%52.3%$52,29129.2%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel16454.0%4162365.7%27.8%$53,96837.1%
Midtown/Chelsea34073.6%9589940.5%31.3%$104,80181.2%
Canarsie/Flatlands32483.5%9161177.3%42.8%$74,84037.4%
Forest Hills/Rego Park18393.5%5244552.3%52.0%$74,61863.6%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale26283.4%7714489.1%44.0%$85,26633.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene24073.3%7348953.6%20.6%$93,43472.4%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook20593.2%6416135.7%18.5%$122,00281.7%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale20293.0%6729617.2%17.1%$91,43142.1%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town21102.4%8827530.4%24.5%$117,92188.2%
West Side/Upper West Side20712.1%9927631.8%24.2%$117,42182.6%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village18262.0%9145627.7%25.4%$140,21387.4%
Upper East Side14491.2%11864824.7%24.0%$120,86887.8%
Residents Working in Retail, by Neighborhood
NeighborhoodNumber of Residents Employed in Retail Jobs% of Employed Residents Working in Retail Trade JobsNumber of Employed Residents% Non-White% Foreign-BornMedian Household Income%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway591410.9%5441428.9%31.4%$47,29433.9%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden536710.5%5134198.1%45.6%$29,93819.1%
East Harlem496210.3%4837186.3%25.1%$33,56442.9%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope492510.2%4823198.9%44.9%$26,97614.3%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck478710.1%4724460.7%44.6%$82,80548.9%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood511110.0%5094294.2%46.6%$35,53517.8%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone94939.8%9726774.6%57.3%$54,38631.1%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest63559.6%6612569.9%47.1%$65,67943.3%
East New York/Starrett City57799.5%6079996.2%37.1%$37,99918.7%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester64219.3%6924497.1%35.3%$40,11421.4%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest58019.2%6278734.5%51.8%$60,81446.7%
Bushwick57999.2%6288381.1%32.3%$47,56940.6%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor62369.0%6906062.2%26.1%$64,66635.7%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park50199.0%5600978.1%46.5%$72,40027.8%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park44868.9%5056178.0%37.5%$50,87728.9%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont47718.7%5467596.0%32.8%$25,59517.3%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island35678.6%4126444.1%54.0%$38,06542.5%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights48288.6%5595945.4%40.6%$67,98649.8%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose42108.6%4881097.9%30.8%$24,84916.5%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace54438.6%6324875.6%48.4%$55,31736.5%
Elmhurst/South Corona52138.3%6246393.9%64.1%$49,07825.5%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven53088.2%6459182.3%52.9%$67,91430.7%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach65868.1%8098459.9%57.2%$53,19835.7%
Bedford-Stuyvesant52168.1%6418574.0%20.2%$47,70643.9%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay36978.0%4595672.5%22.0%$59,79832.7%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill32557.9%4118197.4%31.6%$28,86221.5%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans74657.9%9458098.2%43.1%$62,22824.4%
Astoria/Long Island City67647.9%8577051.8%41.2%$63,59257.4%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint64107.9%8129237.0%25.1%$71,24862.0%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale52627.8%6729617.2%17.1%$91,43142.1%
Jackson Heights/North Corona61357.8%7904289.6%61.0%$55,85222.8%
Sunnyside/Woodside54827.8%7071471.1%55.5%$66,70544.3%
Lower East Side/Chinatown53147.7%6860566.6%35.6%$43,70560.5%
Flatbush/Midwood52917.7%6915959.3%43.1%$55,56941.4%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village69607.6%9145627.7%25.4%$140,21387.4%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield39017.5%5180793.6%43.0%$51,58130.1%
Washington Heights/Inwood74177.5%9899981.2%48.9%$52,05140.3%
Midtown/Chelsea70247.3%9589940.5%31.3%$104,80181.2%
Upper East Side85427.2%11864824.7%24.0%$120,86887.8%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S36397.2%5083677.2%43.1%$50,76539.5%
Central Harlem43447.2%6070285.8%23.9%$47,34149.0%
Canarsie/Flatlands64557.0%9161177.3%42.8%$74,84037.4%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby42957.0%6110497.3%52.3%$52,29129.2%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem41507.0%5916172.5%36.6%$50,86753.2%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village59636.9%8586748.2%40.6%$73,64433.2%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale52796.8%7714489.1%44.0%$85,26633.6%
New Springville/South Beach36956.7%5510233.9%30.1%$81,47940.1%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge28816.7%4315967.6%34.6%$59,99544.6%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North41786.5%6408577.7%29.2%$52,91750.7%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town57226.5%8827530.4%24.5%$117,92188.2%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene47166.4%7348953.6%20.6%$93,43472.4%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel26116.3%4162365.7%27.8%$53,96837.1%
Forest Hills/Rego Park32756.2%5244552.3%52.0%$74,61863.6%
West Side/Upper West Side61756.2%9927631.8%24.2%$117,42182.6%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook35775.6%6416135.7%18.5%$122,00281.7%
Residents Working in Accommodations, by Neighborhood
NeighborhoodNumber of Residents Employed in Accommodations Jobs% of Employed Residents Working in Accommodations JobsNumber of Employed Residents% Non-White% Foreign-BornMedian Household Income%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven10101.6%6459182.3%52.9%$67,91430.7%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay6911.5%4595672.5%22.0%$59,79832.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge6051.4%4315967.6%34.6%$59,99544.6%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park7281.4%5056178.0%37.5%$50,87728.9%
Sunnyside/Woodside10081.4%7071471.1%55.5%$66,70544.3%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale9721.3%7714489.1%44.0%$85,26633.6%
Forest Hills/Rego Park6881.3%5244552.3%52.0%$74,61863.6%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans12311.3%9458098.2%43.1%$62,22824.4%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester8191.2%6924497.1%35.3%$40,11421.4%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem6811.2%5916172.5%36.6%$50,86753.2%
Midtown/Chelsea11051.2%9589940.5%31.3%$104,80181.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill5021.2%4118197.4%31.6%$28,86221.5%
East New York/Starrett City7511.2%6079996.2%37.1%$37,99918.7%
Astoria/Long Island City10381.2%8577051.8%41.2%$63,59257.4%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood5781.1%5094294.2%46.6%$35,53517.8%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose5381.1%4881097.9%30.8%$24,84916.5%
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone11001.1%9726774.6%57.3%$54,38631.1%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village9771.1%8586748.2%40.6%$73,64433.2%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont5251.0%5467596.0%32.8%$25,59517.3%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope4781.0%4823198.9%44.9%$26,97614.3%
Washington Heights/Inwood9631.0%9899981.2%48.9%$52,05140.3%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights5851.0%5595945.4%40.6%$67,98649.8%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck4551.0%4724460.7%44.6%$82,80548.9%
East Harlem4590.9%4837186.3%25.1%$33,56442.9%
Lower East Side/Chinatown6060.9%6860566.6%35.6%$43,70560.5%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S4640.9%5083677.2%43.1%$50,76539.5%
Jackson Heights/North Corona7290.9%7904289.6%61.0%$55,85222.8%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park5180.9%5600978.1%46.5%$72,40027.8%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town6690.8%8827530.4%24.5%$117,92188.2%
Canarsie/Flatlands7010.8%9161177.3%42.8%$74,84037.4%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace4970.8%6324875.6%48.4%$55,31736.5%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach6320.8%8098459.9%57.2%$53,19835.7%
Elmhurst/South Corona5130.8%6246393.9%64.1%$49,07825.5%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield3520.7%5180793.6%43.0%$51,58130.1%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest4700.7%6612569.9%47.1%$65,67943.3%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel2790.7%4162365.7%27.8%$53,96837.1%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden3120.6%5134198.1%45.6%$29,93819.1%
Upper East Side7460.6%11864824.7%24.0%$120,86887.8%
West Side/Upper West Side5850.6%9927631.8%24.2%$117,42182.6%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale3840.6%6729617.2%17.1%$91,43142.1%
Bushwick3620.6%6288381.1%32.3%$47,56940.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene4450.6%7348953.6%20.6%$93,43472.4%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North3530.6%6408577.7%29.2%$52,91750.7%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway3270.6%5441428.9%31.4%$47,29433.9%
Flatbush/Midwood4260.6%6915959.3%43.1%$55,56941.4%
New Springville/South Beach3000.5%5510233.9%30.1%$81,47940.1%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor3790.5%6906062.2%26.1%$64,66635.7%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island2110.5%4126444.1%54.0%$38,06542.5%
Central Harlem2330.4%6070285.8%23.9%$47,34149.0%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint3180.4%8129237.0%25.1%$71,24862.0%
Bedford-Stuyvesant2840.4%6418574.0%20.2%$47,70643.9%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook2810.4%6416135.7%18.5%$122,00281.7%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby2480.4%6110497.3%52.3%$52,29129.2%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest2720.4%6278734.5%51.8%$60,81446.7%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village2610.3%9145627.7%25.4%$140,21387.4%
Residents Working in Personal Care Services, by Neighborhood
NeighborhoodNumber of Residents Employed in Personal Care Services Jobs% of Employed Residents Working in Personal Care Services JobsNumber of Employed Residents% Non-White% Foreign-BornMedian Household Income%, Bachelor's degree or Higher
Flushing/Murray Hill/Whitestone37993.9%9726774.6%57.3%$54,38631.1%
Jackson Heights/North Corona19852.5%7904289.6%61.0%$55,85222.8%
Elmhurst/South Corona13952.2%6246393.9%64.1%$49,07825.5%
Sunset Park/Windsor Terrace13262.1%6324875.6%48.4%$55,31736.5%
Bedford Park/Fordham North/Norwood10372.0%5094294.2%46.6%$35,53517.8%
Washington Heights/Inwood19982.0%9899981.2%48.9%$52,05140.3%
Woodlawn/Williamsbridge/Wakefield10101.9%5180793.6%43.0%$51,58130.1%
Forest Hills/Rego Park10211.9%5244552.3%52.0%$74,61863.6%
Sheepshead Bay/Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest12221.9%6278734.5%51.8%$60,81446.7%
Concourse/Highbridge/Mount Eden9761.9%5134198.1%45.6%$29,93819.1%
Belmont/Crotona Park East/East Tremont9901.8%5467596.0%32.8%$25,59517.3%
Morris Heights/Fordham South/Mount Hope7501.6%4823198.9%44.9%$26,97614.3%
Bensonhurst/Bath Beach12491.5%8098459.9%57.2%$53,19835.7%
New Springville/South Beach8231.5%5510233.9%30.1%$81,47940.1%
Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights8071.4%5595945.4%40.6%$67,98649.8%
Bayside/Douglaston/Little Neck6751.4%4724460.7%44.6%$82,80548.9%
Far Rockaway/Breezy Point/Broad Channel5691.4%4162365.7%27.8%$53,96837.1%
Prospect Heights/Crown Heights North8711.4%6408577.7%29.2%$52,91750.7%
Riverdale/Kingsbridge5821.3%4315967.6%34.6%$59,99544.6%
Tottenville/Great Kills/Annadale8861.3%6729617.2%17.1%$91,43142.1%
Hamilton Heights/Manhattanville/West Harlem7771.3%5916172.5%36.6%$50,86753.2%
Ridgewood/Glendale/Middle Village11271.3%8586748.2%40.6%$73,64433.2%
Sunnyside/Woodside9261.3%7071471.1%55.5%$66,70544.3%
East New York/Starrett City7551.2%6079996.2%37.1%$37,99918.7%
Lower East Side/Chinatown8511.2%6860566.6%35.6%$43,70560.5%
Port Richmond/Stapleton/Mariner's Harbor8461.2%6906062.2%26.1%$64,66635.7%
Castle Hill/Clason Point/Parkchester8301.2%6924497.1%35.3%$40,11421.4%
Central Harlem7271.2%6070285.8%23.9%$47,34149.0%
East Flatbush/Farragut/Rugby7241.2%6110497.3%52.3%$52,29129.2%
Brownsville/Ocean Hill4791.2%4118197.4%31.6%$28,86221.5%
Briarwood/Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest7681.2%6612569.9%47.1%$65,67943.3%
Richmond Hill/Woodhaven7441.2%6459182.3%52.9%$67,91430.7%
Flatbush/Midwood7561.1%6915959.3%43.1%$55,56941.4%
Borough Park/Kensington/Ocean Parkway5941.1%5441428.9%31.4%$47,29433.9%
Williamsburg/Greenpoint8761.1%8129237.0%25.1%$71,24862.0%
Pelham Parkway/Morris Park5371.1%5056178.0%37.5%$50,87728.9%
Bushwick6521.0%6288381.1%32.3%$47,56940.6%
Brighton Beach/Coney Island4231.0%4126444.1%54.0%$38,06542.5%
Bedford-Stuyvesant6341.0%6418574.0%20.2%$47,70643.9%
Midtown East/Murray Hill/Gramercy/Stuyvescant Town8511.0%8827530.4%24.5%$117,92188.2%
Howard Beach/Ozone Park5170.9%5600978.1%46.5%$72,40027.8%
Jamaica/Hollis/St. Albans8500.9%9458098.2%43.1%$62,22824.4%
East Harlem4180.9%4837186.3%25.1%$33,56442.9%
Astoria/Long Island City7410.9%8577051.8%41.2%$63,59257.4%
Co-op City/Pelham Bay3750.8%4595672.5%22.0%$59,79832.7%
Hunts Point/Longwood/Melrose3980.8%4881097.9%30.8%$24,84916.5%
Soho/Battery Park City/Greenwich Village7260.8%9145627.7%25.4%$140,21387.4%
Canarsie/Flatlands6860.7%9161177.3%42.8%$74,84037.4%
Prospect Lefferts/Wingate/Crown Heights S3800.7%5083677.2%43.1%$50,76539.5%
Queens Village/Cambria Heights/Rosedale4470.6%7714489.1%44.0%$85,26633.6%
Brooklyn Heights/Fort Greene4200.6%7348953.6%20.6%$93,43472.4%
Midtown/Chelsea5330.6%9589940.5%31.3%$104,80181.2%
Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook3460.5%6416135.7%18.5%$122,00281.7%
West Side/Upper West Side4670.5%9927631.8%24.2%$117,42182.6%
Upper East Side4060.3%11864824.7%24.0%$120,86887.8%

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.

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