Can pre-existing medical conditions explain occupational differences in COVID-19 disease severity? An analysis of 3.17 million people insured in Germany

Our findings provide support for occupational differences in COVID-19, where the occupational classifications under study were independently related to risk differences (eg, skill-level and job sector). Furthermore, we provide empirical evidence that differences by occupational skill levels are partly due to pre-existing conditions. This finding suggests that occupational inequalities in health increased during the pandemic, with those with poorer health who worked in disadvantaged occupations also being more likely to experience severe COVID-19 outcomes.