Study: Maui Ranks #2 in US of Areas by Share of Jobs in Industries at High Risk from COVID-19

Grand Wailea Resort, Maui. Photo file by Wendy Osher.

A new study by Brookings Institution ranks the metro area of Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina on Maui at number two in the nation by share of jobs in industries at high risk from COVID-19.

Three researchers with the Metropolitan Policy Program looked into employment and industries most “vulnerable to disruption by virus-related demand declines, shutdowns, and layoffs.”

The nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC also outlined most at-risk industry groups, which included leisure and hospitality.

During a press conference on Friday, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said 14 hotels had already closed on island, resulting in 5,000 to 6,000 layoffs.

Leading the list is Midland, an oil-and-gas town in Texas with 42% of its workforce in high-risk industries, according to the report.

Maui has more than a third of its workforce (32,092 employees) or 40.4% of its workforce in industries threatened by coronavirus-related uncertainties, according to the report, (which sourced Zandi’s “COVID-19 A Fiscal Stimulus Plan,” Moody’s Analytics 2020 and Brookings analysis of Emsi data).

Other areas suffering similar impacts from impacts within the hospitality and leisure sector include Atlantic City, New Jersey and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The full Brookings Institution report by Mark Muro – Senior Fellow and Policy Director, Robert Maxim – Research Associate, and Jacob Whiton – Research Analyst at the Metropolitan Policy Program, is available HERE.