A recent study highlights a significant connection between smoking and reduced earnings among young adults, particularly those with lower education levels. Researchers emphasize the need for initiatives to combat the economic and health repercussions of smoking.
A recent study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reveals a troubling connection between smoking and lower earnings among young workers, particularly those with less education. This finding adds yet another dimension to the well-documented adverse health effects of smoking, which include increased risks of various cancers, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular diseases.
Despite the decline in smoking rates since the 1990s, smoking remains prevalent in 2019, with 18% of women and 27% of men in high-income countries still partaking.
Smoking is already known to cause approximately 14% of all deaths globally in 2019, yet its impact on economic factors like earnings has been less explored.
The researchers utilized data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, which followed 3,596 participants from urban and rural areas in Finland. These individuals, born between 1962 and 1977, had their smoking data linked to labor market outcomes from Statistics Finland and parental background information. The analysis spanned people aged 24 to 39, starting from 2001.
The key measure for smoking in this study was “pack-years,” a standard unit quantifying cumulative tobacco exposure.
The researchers found that a one-unit increase in pack-years was associated with a 1.8% decrease in earnings. This implies that cutting smoking by five pack-years could potentially increase earnings by 9%.
Additionally, the data indicated a 0.5% decrease in years employed with each unit increase in pack-years. The most significant earnings differences were noted among younger workers with lower education levels, a trend not observed among older workers.
“Smoking in early adulthood is closely linked to long-term earnings and employment, with lower-educated individuals experiencing the most severe consequences,” lead author Jutta Viinikainen, a professor in the School of Business and Economics at the University of Jyväskylä, said in a news release. “These findings highlight the need for policies that address smoking’s hidden economic costs and promote healthier behaviors.”
This study underscores the broader implications of smoking beyond health, suggesting that it can also hinder economic opportunities and success, especially for younger, less educated workers. The researchers encourage policymakers to consider these findings when designing public health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates.