Share "Gratitude for working and feeling needed helps my mental health." By Tonya Russell February 16, 2021 Nothing could have prepared us for 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a myriad of challenges and changes that, to say the least, have required some major life adjustments. While many people had to shelter-in-place at some point this year with the ability to work remotely, countless others have put themselves in harm's way working in essential roles. Black workers, especially, are overrepresented in essential jobs. Even though they represent about 12 percent of the total U.S. workforce, Black people hold roughly 14 percent of grocery store jobs, 26 percent of public transit positions, 18 percent of postal service jobs, 17.5 percent of health-care positions, and 19 percent of roles in child-care and social services, according to a 2020 report from the Economic Policy Institute.