Heat, Work and Worry: How is Outdoor Employment Linked to Concern About Extreme Heat?

The briefing examines how the prevalence of outdoor work correlates with worry about extreme heat in the U.S., finding a modest positive correlation at the county level and a stronger one at the state level, though results vary significantly by region.

• At the county level, there is a modest positive correlation (r = 0.18) between the proportion of outdoor workers and the percentage of adults who are moderately or very worried about extreme heat, though this varies by region. The South (r = 0.13) and West (r = 0.20) show positive correlations, while the Midwest (r = -0.24) and Northeast (r = -0.18) show negative correlations.
• State-level data shows a stronger positive correlation (r = 0.54) between the proportion of outdoor workers and worry about extreme heat. Some states with high worry and high outdoor employment, such as California and Nevada, have passed heat protection standards, while others, including Texas and Florida, have blocked local protections.
• Extreme heat poses severe health and economic risks to the approximately 32 million outdoor workers in the U.S., who are disproportionately male, Black, or Hispanic/Latino. Heat-related work disruptions could cost these workers $55.4 billion annually by midcentury if no action is taken.
• California's 2005 heat standard, requiring shade, water, and rest breaks when temperatures exceed 95°F, is linked to a 30% reduction in heat-related injuries.

APA

Team, M. 4. (2025). Heat, Work and Worry: How is Outdoor Employment Linked to Concern About Extreme Heat? Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/heat-work-and-worry-how-is-outdoor-employment-linked-to-concern-about-extreme-heat/

Chicago

Team, Mason 4C. Heat, Work and Worry: How is Outdoor Employment Linked to Concern About Extreme Heat? Center for Climate Change Communication, 2025. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/heat-work-and-worry-how-is-outdoor-employment-linked-to-concern-about-extreme-heat/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=Mason 4C |title=Heat, Work and Worry: How is Outdoor Employment Linked to Concern About Extreme Heat? |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=5 August 2025 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/heat-work-and-worry-how-is-outdoor-employment-linked-to-concern-about-extreme-heat/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2025heat, author = {Team, Mason 4C}, title = {{Heat, Work and Worry: How is Outdoor Employment Linked to Concern About Extreme Heat?}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2025}, month = aug, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/heat-work-and-worry-how-is-outdoor-employment-linked-to-concern-about-extreme-heat/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }