Criticism of precarious working conditions is mainly about exploitation and a lack of social security – also in Europe. This is because employees of this type are not entitled to paid holidays or continued payment of wages in the event of illness. A new study from Sweden now points to a problem that has received little attention so far: People without a permanent job are at a higher risk of dying prematurely.
The so-called ‘gig economy’ has boomed in recent years. The gig economy is a fashionable expression for that part of the labor market where short-term contracts are awarded to job seekers, freelancers or part-time workers. An example of this is the bogus self-employed parcel delivery person who brings your order home in his own car.
At least that is what a study by the Institute for Environmental Medicine of the Swedish Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal ‘Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health’ shows. The researchers, led by Nuria Matilla Santander, evaluated the register data of 250,000 workers aged 20 to 55 living in Sweden for the period from 2005 to 2017. It took into account both people who were able to move from unfavorable to good Working Conditions. like those stuck in precarious jobs.
The analysis of the data showed that members of the first group – that is, those who could improve their working conditions – had a 20 percent lower risk of death than those who remained in precarious employment, regardless of their further professional development. For people who had a steady job for twelve years, the risk of premature death fell by as much as 30 percent.
“This is the first study to show that moving from a precarious job to a safer job reduces the risk of death,” says Theo Bodin, one of the study’s co-authors. “It’s like saying you’re more likely to die prematurely if you keep working in a job without a good contract.”
The fact that the scientists could draw from a huge population database proved to be an advantage for the research. “Such a large study population allowed us to adjust for many factors that influence mortality, such as age, illnesses that workers may suffer from, or even life changes such as divorce,” explains Matilla Santander. “The methods we use allow us to be reasonably confident that the difference in mortality is due to job insecurity and not to individual factors.”
Based on their findings, the researchers believe that job security in the Swedish labor market needs to be improved. The problem could actually be solved quite easily, says Matilla Santander. “These results are important because the increased mortality rate we see in this group of workers can be avoided. If we reduce the number of flexible jobs in the labor market, we can prevent many premature deaths in Sweden,” she says.
Precarious work comes in many different forms: freelancers, temporary workers, workers in mini-jobs, low-paid seasonal workers. Characteristic of such employment relationships are low wages, no social security, lack of influence, lack of rights, short-term contracts and therefore an uncertain future for the employee. Employees often have to bring the tools or vehicles they need to do the job themselves. Such a working existence lacks the predictability and certainty that many people value. And it should come as no surprise that this has negative health consequences.
How people die who live in precarious jobs for a long time has not yet been clarified. It could be that they lead an unhealthier life, do an unhealthier job, or are constantly pressured by precarious work. Only further research could clarify this. (i.e)
source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
