Layoffs and pay cuts caused in the novel coronavirus pandemic have hit people on lower incomes hardest, a survey has found.

A poll by Total Research Associates said that 26 per cent of working residents had been laid off.

A total of 38 per cent told researchers their hours had been cut and 34 per cent had suffered a pay reduction.

A TRA spokesman said: “Of note, these impacts have affected low-income earners to a much greater extent than those with higher incomes.

“Further, reductions in work hours hit older residents, Bermudians and black residents to a greater extent than their counterparts and men and black residents are more likely to have seen a reduction in salary or pay.”

The results came from a phone survey of 400 adults carried out between April 22 and 29. Almost six in ten of people — 59 per cent — who had been laid off said they had applied for Government unemployment benefits — and 55 per cent of those who had applied had got a payout by the time they were surveyed.

Just over eight in ten people — 81 per cent — said they were concerned that they would contract Covid-19 and 78 per cent said they were concerned about the physical health of a family member.

The TRA spokesman said: “There are differences across demographics with women and black residents expressing greater concern than their counterparts about contracting the virus.”

Almost seven in ten people in the survey — 69 per cent — said they viewed the pandemic as a serious threat.

The TRA spokesman said: “Across demographics, women and those with household incomes between $75,000 and $149,999 per year as opposed to those earning less, are more likely to see the pandemic as a serious threat.”