A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Tobacco Smoking in Early Adulthood and Labor Market Performance: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
Authors: Viinikainen, Jutta; Böckerman, Petri; Hakulinen, Christian; Kari, Jaana T; Lehtimäki, Terho; Pahkala, Katja; Pehkonen, Jaakko; Viikari, Jorma; Raitakari, Olli T
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Nicotine and Tobacco Research
Journal name in source: Nicotine and Tobacco Research
Volume: 27
Issue: 7
First page : 1289
Last page: 1293
eISSN: 1469-994X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae296
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae296
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/485030484
Introduction: Tobacco smoking has been associated with reduced success in the labor market, potentially due to its negative impact on labor productivity, especially in physically demanding jobs, as it affects physical fitness and performance adversely.
Methods: This prospective study used data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study survey, linked to register information on labor market outcomes and education attainment, to examine the association between tobacco smoking and long-term labor market outcomes (earnings and employment, N = 1953). Smoking levels were determined by cigarette pack-years in 2001, as reported in the survey, whereas annual earnings and employment status were tracked from 2001 to 2019.
Results: A one-unit increase in pack-year of smoking was associated with a 1.8% decrease in earnings (95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.6% to -0.9%) and a 0.5% reduction in years employed (95% CI: -0.6% to -0.3%). This association was pronounced among participants with lower education levels. The earnings difference was evident among younger cohorts, whereas a negative correlation with employment was observed most strongly in older cohorts among individuals with lower education.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that smoking had a negative effect on earnings among the younger generation, particularly among the less well-educated. The finding of greater impacts on years of employment among the older age group, particularly among groups with low education levels, is consistent with the delayed onset of most health impacts, which may particularly affect productivity in physically demanding jobs that are more common among people with less education.
Implications: Adverse consequences of smoking include reduced earnings and labor market participation, particularly among less well-educated groups. Tobacco control advocates should draw attention to these consequences in arguing for effective measures to reduce smoking initiation and increase cessation in order to achieve socially optimal outcomes.
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Funding information in the publication:
The Young Finns Study has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland: grants 356405, 322098, 286284, 134309 (Eye), 126925, 121584, 124282, 255381, 256474, 283115, 319060, 320297, 314389, 338395, 330809, 339390, 104821, 129378 (Salve), 117797 (Gendi), and 141071 (Skidi); Social Insurance Institution of Finland; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio, Tampere, and Turku University Hospitals (grant X51001); Juho Vainio Foundation; Paavo Nurmi Foundation; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research; Finnish Cultural Foundation; Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation; Emil Aaltonen Foundation; Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association; EU Horizon 2020 (grant 755320 for TAXINOMISIS and grant 848146 for To Aition); European Research Council (grant 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation; Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry; Cancer Foundation Finland. The use of the YFS–FLEED–LPC data has been supported by Palkansaajasäätiö and OP Group Research Foundation. CH was supported by the Research Council of Finland (Academy Research Fellowship, 354237) and the European Union (ERC, MENTALNET, 101040247). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
