In a British study published by Rajah et al in Social Science & Medicine, researchers looked at data from 18,000 adult patients with arthritis and matched controls, and found that arthritis was associated with an average 3–percentage point reduction in the probability of employment. Women, workers with no degree, those in manual or service occupations, and those who worked for small private companies (vs larger private companies or public companies) were more likely to have their employment negatively affected by their arthritis diagnosis. Specifically, men with a degree earned less if they had arthritis vs men who did not have arthritis, but this pattern was not seen in any other demographic group. Finally, those who worked in professional jobs also earned less if they had arthritis, likely due to fewer hours worked.
In a companion press release from the University of Leeds, senior study author Adam Martin, PhD, emphasized: “We already know that arthritis is more common amongst women and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Our new findings show that substantial inequalities also exist in terms of how the work outcomes of these groups are affected by arthritis. Government and employers should consider how interventions in workplaces could better support people living with arthritis and improve their health and employment prospects, whilst also potentially tackling inequalities and address the need to support people in their 50s and 60s to stay in work for longer if they want to. Given the increasing prevalence of arthritis and the trend towards older retirement ages, this need for better support represents a substantial and growing challenge for society.”