A recent Finnish study revealed that smoking not only harms health but may also hinder a person's career and earning potential for many years, particularly affecting younger workers with lower education levels. The study, published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, followed about 2,000 Finnish adults for nearly two decades, from 2001 to 2019, focusing on those aged 24 to 39 at the start of the study period.
The researchers analyzed the connection between smoking habits, income, and employment duration, revealing differences in income between smokers and non-smokers, especially among younger workers with lower educational levels. They discovered that each increase of one pack-year was associated with a decrease in income of 1.8 percent.
Pack-years, a standard measure of cumulative tobacco exposure, are calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked. For instance, a person who smoked one pack daily for 10 years has accumulated 10 pack-years, which might result in earning almost 10% less than someone who smoked less or not at all, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.
The negative impact of smoking on income was particularly strong among young people with lower education, while older smokers of the same educational level experienced reductions in years of employment, Focus Online noted. "Smoking in young adulthood is closely linked to long-term income losses, especially among low-skilled individuals," said Jutta Viinikainen, the lead researcher of the study, according to a report by Münchner Merkur. "These findings highlight the need for policies that address the hidden economic costs of smoking and promote healthier behaviors."
Interestingly, the negative effects of smoking on income were only evident in active smokers. The connection between low income and smoking was prominent only for current smokers, and the negative association between pack-year and employment among the less educated was evident only among current smokers and not among those who have quit smoking.
Smoking disrupts the ability to work hard, particularly physically, impacting productivity and has been associated with reduced success in the labor market.
Measures to reduce smoking can not only improve health but also enhance the economic prospects of smokers. Quitting smoking not only benefits health but can also improve financial opportunities, as complete cessation can mitigate the negative effects on job stability and income.
"Employers should implement supportive programs for quitting smoking, aimed at improving the well-being and productivity of their employees," stated Petri Böckerman. The researchers believe the study has several implications. "These efforts can help reduce smoking and lessen its negative consequences," said Viinikainen.
Smoking particularly impacts physically demanding jobs because it reduces physical fitness and performance. The long-term health effects of smoking particularly impacted older workers in physically demanding jobs. This suggests that smoking among younger generations, where it is less common, may have greater consequences for their job market opportunities and negatively affect labor market prospects with greater intensity.
Smoking increases the risk of various types of cancer, including mouth cancer, throat cancer, and bladder cancer. The study shows that smoking is not only harmful to health but also has negative socioeconomic consequences. "Public health communication could be more powerful by emphasizing both the financial costs and the health risks of smoking," added Viinikainen.
The research underscores the importance of anti-smoking campaigns that address the hidden economic costs of smoking and promote healthier behaviors, especially among younger workers with lower education levels. "It is also important to combat stigmatization by creating inclusive environments where employees feel supported in their choice for a healthier lifestyle," stated Böckerman.
Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The study's findings suggest that reducing smoking can lead to improvements in income and employment stability. A study revealed that reducing smoking by five "pack-years" can lead to a 9% increase in income long-term, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.