Physically demanding jobs harder on health
People with physically demanding jobs take more sick leave. They also have higher unemployment rates and shorter work lives, a new study finds.
“This study showed that high physical work demands are a marked risk factor for a shortened expected working life and increased years of sickness, absence and unemployment,” the researchers wrote.
More men than women had physically demanding jobs, such as carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, cleaning and manufacturing.
Men with such jobs were an average of nearly three years younger than men in physically
undemanding jobs, while women in physically demanding jobs were about 10 months older than those in physically undemanding jobs.
For both men and women, physically demanding jobs were strongly associated with shorter work life (years worked until retirement) and more sick leave and unemployment, compared with other jobs.
Source: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
