Deadly Labour: Occupational Homicide Risks for Sex Workers and Other Stigmatised Professions

• In Event: Sex work and trafficking

Abstract

Sex workers experience high levels of occupational violence, including homicide. Yet, research on sex worker homicides often lacks comparison groups and fails to distinguish between occupational and non-occupational deaths. This study examines overall mortality by occupation and assesses the occupational nature of homicides among sex workers, taxi drivers, construction workers, and housekeepers. These groups were chosen based on worker demographics, labour regulations, and social stigma. Using data from the Australian and New Zealand National Coronial Information System, all deaths within these occupations over a 17-year period were analysed, yielding a sample of 5,132 cases: 3,016 construction workers (58.8%), 1,391 cleaners (27.1%), 617 taxi drivers (12.0%), and 108 sex workers (2.1%). Compared to the overall sample, sex workers were more likely to be younger, female, and migrants. Their deaths were over twice as likely to be work-related (12.2% vs. 5.3%; p<0.001) and six times as likely to result from violence (14.6% vs. 2.5%; p<0.001). Accidental overdose and suicide, rather than homicide, were the leading causes of death among sex workers. Sex workers and taxi drivers had the highest rates of occupational homicide. Among taxi driver homicides, 67% were committed by a customer or colleague, compared to 47% for sex workers. Contrary to expectations, homicide investigations involving sex worker victims were no less likely to be solved and were more likely to result in a coronial inquest. However, while taxi driver homicides were examined as occupational concerns, sex worker homicides were treated as isolated incidents. I argue that addressing sex worker homicides through a similar occupational lens is essential to improving safety for Australian sex workers.

Author

• Katie Hail-Jares, Griffith University