In today’s working world, many people work in jobs that offer little security or benefits. These jobs might pay low wages, offer no job stability, and give workers very few rights.
A recent study from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden suggests that this kind of job situation isn’t just stressful—it can actually be deadly.
The study shows that people who move from an insecure job to a secure one have a much lower risk of dying young.
The Study: A Close Look at Swedish Workers
Researchers used data from a big group of Swedish workers, numbering over 250,000, who were between 20 and 55 years old.
The data covered a time span from 2005 to 2017. The study specifically looked at workers who started in insecure jobs and later moved to jobs with more stability.
The researchers found that those who moved from an unstable job to a stable job had a 20% lower chance of dying early.
And if they stayed in that secure job for 12 years, that risk dropped by an additional 10%, making it a total of 30%.
“The results are important since they show that the elevated mortality rate observed in workers can be avoided.
If we reduce precariousness in the labor market, we can avoid premature deaths in Sweden,” said Dr. Nuria Matilla-Santander, one of the researchers.
Why Job Security Matters: More Than Just a Paycheck
The researchers made sure to consider other factors that could affect how long someone lives, like their age, other health conditions, or major life events like divorce.
This makes them confident that the lower risk of dying is actually because of the change in job security, not something else.
Dr. Theo Bodin, another researcher in the study, pointed out that this is the first study to prove a direct link between job security and the risk of early death.
“It’s the same as saying that the risk of early death is higher if one keeps working in jobs without a secure employment contract,” he said.
Conclusion: A Wake-up Call for Policy Makers
The results of this study send a strong message to anyone who can make changes in the job market. Improving job security can literally save lives.
The researchers plan to dig deeper and find out the specific reasons why people in insecure jobs are more likely to die young.
But for now, the takeaway is clear: securing a stable job is not just a matter of financial security, but a key factor in leading a longer, healthier life.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about fruit that may keep your muscles young and a new drug that could delay muscle aging.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
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