Occupational Surveillance of Young U.S. Workers

Background: Young workers (<24 years) are at increased risk for injury and possibly negative health behaviors (e.g. early tobacco or drug use); at the same time, research has shown that young people who work may attain higher employment rates and better wages as long as a decade after high school graduation. Methods: Using data derived from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a representative annual survey of the US civilian population, and 2 additional representative databases of US youth (i.e. the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth'79 [NLSY79] and National Study of Adolescent Health [AddHealth]), we are studying the health disparities, costs, morbidity, disability, risk behaviors, and mortality for younger workers. Results: After adjustment for sample weights and design effects, using the 1997-2004 NHIS data for 16,908 young adult workers age18-24 years (representing an estimated 17 million U.S. youth workers), the prevalence of negative health indicators (e.g. smoking, risky drinking) among young workers demonstrated significant variability by occupation, including Transportation/material moving workers reporting the highest risky drinking (13.5%), and Precision production/craft/repair workers with the highest smoking rates (39.7%). At the same time, employment as a young adult worker was associated with significantly lower risks of all-cause, homicide, and “other-cause” mortality (adjusted odds ratios range: 0.51-0.60) compared to unemployed young adults. Conclusions: Targeted interventions early in the careers of high risk workers may lead, long-term, to a healthier workforce. Occupational surveillance of young workers will identify the costs, risks and benefits of employment, as well as areas for targeted workplace intervention.