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A study conducted by Karolinska Institutet, as published in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Reports, reveals that individuals without stable job contracts can lower their risk of premature death by 20 percent when they secure permanent employment. The study’s findings underscore the need for improved job security in Sweden, as precarious employment, characterized by short contracts, low wages, and a lack of influence and rights, results in an unpredictable and insecure work life.
The researchers analyzed registry data from over 250,000 workers in Sweden aged 20 to 55, collected from 2005 to 2017. The study included individuals who transitioned from insecure to secure working conditions. Those who made this shift experienced a 20 percent lower risk of death compared to those who remained in precarious employment, regardless of subsequent changes. If they remained in secure employment for 12 years, their risk of death decreased by 30 percent.
Nuria Matilla-Santander, an assistant professor at the same institute and the study’s first author, explains that the comprehensive dataset allowed them to account for various factors influencing mortality, such as age, other health conditions, or life events like divorce. This methodology suggests that the difference in mortality rates can be attributed to employment precariousness rather than individual factors.
Dr. Matilla-Santander notes the importance of these results, as they indicate that the increased mortality rate observed in workers can be mitigated through reducing job precariousness in the labor market, potentially preventing premature deaths in Sweden. The next phase of the research aims to delve into the specific causes of mortality in this context.
It’s worth mentioning that the study was primarily funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare (Forte), and the researchers report no conflicts of interest.
