Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between occupational status and health inequality in the working population by analyzing data from the 2012 China Labor Force Dynamics Survey. The results show that individual health varies substantially by occupational status, including self-assessed health, work-related injury, and self-reported occupational disease. Low occupational status is associated with poorer self-assessed health and increased incidences of work-related injuries, while people with the high occupational status report more occupational diseases. Further analysis indicates that working condition is the main mediator between occupational status and individual health. Based on the results from the Karlson–Holm–Breen decomposition, the disparities in working conditions, including working overtime, environmental and occupational hazards, job demand and control, and perceived rewards, account for approximately half of the effects of occupation status on individual health.
Highlights
As an intrinsic part of human well-being, health is of great significance to the quality of an individual’s life and the overall development of society
Research hypothesis This study addresses the following questions: (1) What is the difference in health status and working conditions across different occupational groups in Chinese society? (2) How does occupation affect people’s health through various specific working conditions? Based on the discussion of existing literature, we mainly explore the mediating effects of working conditions from four aspects: working hours, working environment, job demand and control, and occupational security and rewards
The results show that different occupational groups exhibit substantial differences in terms of various working conditions, as shown by the corresponding F test or χ2 test
Summary
As an intrinsic part of human well-being, health is of great significance to the quality of an individual’s life and the overall development of society. Researchers found that substantive health disparities exist between different occupational groups These differences have not been narrowed down with the advancement of medical technology, social and economic development, and even the establishment of a universal health care system. Occupational health affects the well-being of workers and their families and the sustainability of social and economic development. Few studies have examined the specific mechanisms by which occupational status affects individual health. We use data from the 2012 China Labor Force Dynamics Survey to examine differences in health status and working conditions among different occupations in China, paying special attention to how occupation affects individual health through a series of specific working conditions, including workload and working environment, job demand and control, job rewards, and other mechanisms. Our study aims to gain a deeper understanding of China’s social stratification and its health consequences during its rapid social transformation and provide new insights for improving the health of Chinese workers, reducing health inequalities, and promoting sustainable social and economic development
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