International Dairy Foods Association

Essential Worker Poll

More than three-quarters of Republican, Democrat and Independent voters support extending temporary tax relief to food and agricultural workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This poll from IDFA conducted by Morning Consult sought to learn more about the voting public’s perspective on essential workers and how the federal government can support their work with tangible relief during this unprecedented emergency.

The full results are here. Key results from the poll are below.

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Topline Results

Voters report high levels of concern for grocery store workers, agriculture and food production workers, farm workers, and vehicle and machinery workers during COVID-19.

How concerned are you for the following groups of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Nine in ten voters agree that grocery store workers (93%), agricultural and food production workers (90%) and farm workers (89%)  are essential workers.

Based on what you know, do you agree or disagree the following groups of workers are essential workers amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Two-thirds or more of voters support providing tax relief to grocery store workers, farm workers, agricultural and food production workers, and vehicle and machinery workers.

Do you support or oppose offering temporary tax relief to the following workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Three-quarters or more of voters, across key demographics, support providing temporary tax relief to agricultural and food production workers– this relief has bipartisan support.

Do you support or oppose offering temporary tax relief to the following workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Agricultural and Food Production Workers

Access During COVID-19

Eighty-four percent of voters report they have excellent or good access to a grocery store, while 16% report they do not.

How would you rate your access to the following during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Concern During COVID-19

Voters across the political spectrum are concerned for agricultural and food production workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

How concerned are you for the following groups of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Agricultural and Food Production Workers

Voters across the political spectrum indicate high levels of concern for farm workers. Additionally, more than half of voters across key demographics report they are concerned for them.

How concerned are you for the following groups of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Farm workers

Voters, across key demographics, indicate a high level of intense concern for grocery store workers. Very few voters report they are not concerned for them.

How concerned are you for the following groups of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? 

Grocery store workers

Essential Worker Status

Nearly nine in ten of voters across key demographics agree agricultural and food production workers are essential workers.

Based on what you know, do you agree or disagree the following groups of workers are essential workers amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Agricultural and Food Production Workers

Democrats and Republicans both strongly agree that farm workers are essential workers.

Based on what you know, do you agree or disagree the following groups of workers are essential workers amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Farm workers

While a strong majority of all voters across key demographics agree grocery store workers are essential workers, Women, Baby Boomers, and Midwest voters agree the strongest. Additionally, there is cross- party consensus on extending essential worker status to grocery store workers.

Based on what you know, do you agree or disagree the following groups of workers are essential workers amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Grocery store workers

Tax Relief for Essential Workers

There is bipartisan support in offering temporary tax relief to essential food industry workers. More than 8 in 10 of Democratic, independent, and Republican voters support offering this relief.

Do you support or oppose offering temporary tax relief to the following workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

Food industry

Farm workers

This IDFA poll was conducted by Morning Consult between July 14-July 16, 2020 among a national sample of 1993 Registered Voters. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Registered Voters based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.