Introduction The news media is one of the most accessible sources of information regarding COVID-19 transmission in the workplace in the absence of other occupational data. Only a few public health agencies in Canada and the United States have publically reported detailed occupation information for non-health care worker COVID-19 cases.

Objective We conducted a media surveillance analysis to identify new or emerging occupational groups at risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (‘COVID-19 exposure’).

Methods We searched the Factiva database for media articles reporting COVID-19 workplace outbreaks (February 1 - December 22, 2020). Job titles were coded to the 2016 National Occupational Classification (V1.3) and industries to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (V3.0). Occupations with COVID-19 workplace transmission identified in media articles were compared and contrasted with the same occupation in the Vancouver School of Economics (VSE) COVID Risk Tool by risk rating (seven categories between very high to very low).

Results We identified 1,111 unique COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in the media. After nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates, industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers had the most workplace outbreaks reported in the media (n=79) but were rated as medium risk occupations for COVID-19 transmission in the VSE COVID Risk Tool. Outbreaks were also reported in the media among material handlers (n=61) and general farm workers (n=28) but were rated medium-low risk and low risk, respectively. Outbreaks reported in the media among food and beverage services (n=72) and cashiers (n=60) were identified as high risk occupations in the VSE COVID Risk Tool.

Conclusion Media surveillance can identify COVID-19 workplace outbreaks and indicate transmission risk. Our results point to key determinants of health that compound the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace, and highlight the importance of collecting occupation data during a pandemic.