The COVID-19 pandemic has focused public attention on occupational groups that ensure the maintenance of critical infrastructure, the provision of medical care and the supply of essential goods. This paper examines working conditions in critical jobs based on representative data from the German BAuA Working Time Survey 2019. Our analyses reveal that essential workers are more likely to be female, to work in specialist activities and in security, cleaning, transport and logistics as well as health care occupations. Regarding working conditions, essential workers are paid comparatively less and are more physically proximate to others at work. They more often work atypical hours, such as day and night shifts and on weekends, and have less working time autonomy. Additionally, critical jobs are characterised by muscular and skeletal strain due to working positions and carrying heavy loads significantly more often. Thus, our findings strongly suggest that work-related risks accumulate in critical jobs.