Shedding Light on Unseen Labor

The world is powered on the backs of workers we rarely see. My goal in the visual essay was to capture the lives of these essential workers, highlighting their contributions to society. I wanted to give a voice through visuals to those often overlooked.

For this essay I created an essay focusing on the hidden workforce, individuals who perform critical yet invisible labor. My different photographs included a nurse, a Publix worker, Amazon drivers, Starbucks employees, and blue collar workers. I selected these images and their context to humanize their experiences and highlight the importance in society. This whole process really deepened my understanding of labor inequalities and the lack of visibility our essential workers have. We all benefit from their hard work and we take that for granted, so this essay helped me research and understand their experiences and struggles. I feel more conscious of the issues they face including low wages, job insecurity, and lack of recognition.

Moving forward I want to use my skills that I learn throughout digital storytelling to advocate for our essential workers. Whether through graphic design or journalism, I plan to create projects that bring attention to social issues. This whole experience has really opened my eyes that visual aids and photography help bring awareness and light to social issues.