Key worker

[citation needed][1][2][3][4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, UK schools were closed except for children of "key workers" defined by the government.

The UK government on 19 March 2020 defined which groups of staff are considered Key Workers or Critical Workers for schooling purposes, with the following definitions:[5] During the Second World War in Germany, professionals who were indispensable to carry out a military, transport or administrative defence task could be freed from military service in the German Wehrmacht.

in the United Kingdom in the context of workers who may find it difficult to buy property in the area where they work.

Many local authorities and other public sector bodies, especially in London and the South East, where a "Key worker living scheme" operates[7] have been facing major problems recruiting and retaining their workers many of whom are on lower levels of pay than the private sector in terms of housing in most cases the social rented sector is unable to provide low cost housing for rent or shared ownership.

[6][8] In response initiatives have been designed to house key workers, including low-cost loans and shared ownership schemes.