Predictors and consequences of unemployment in construction and forest work during a 5-year follow-up

Objectives The study investigated whether indicators of health, work condit ions, or life-style predict subsequent unemployment and also the unemployme nt consequences related to health or life-style. Methods A questionnaire was administered to 781 male construction and 877 m ale forest workers (aged 20-49 years and working at the beginning of the st udy) in 1989 and 1994. Employment status during follow-up was ranked into t he following 4 categories according to the employment status and unemployme nt time: continuously employed, re-employed, short term (less than or equal to 24 months) unemployed and long-term (greater than or equal to 24 months ) unemployed. Results The following base-line factors were associated with long-term unem ployment during follow-up among the construction workers: age >40 years, po or subjective health, smoking, frequent heavy use of alcohol, low job satis faction, marital status (single), and unemployment during the year precedin g the initial survey. Among the forest workers, age >40 years, frequent str ess symptoms, and preceding unemployment entered the model. In addition smo king predicted unemployment among the forest workers with no preceding unem ployment. The proportion of regular smokers decreased among the long-term u nemployed. Physical exercise was more frequent at the time of follow-up tha n it was initially, particularly among the unemployed. Stress symptoms incr eased among the construction workers, but musculoskeletal symptoms decrease d significantly among the long-term unemployed. Among the forest workers st ress symptoms decreased among the continuously employed and re-employed per sons, but musculoskeletal symptoms decreased significantly for them all. Conclusions Unemployment among construction workers is to some extent depen dent on life-style, health, and job satisfaction in addition to age, marita l status, and unemployment history. For forest workers, unemployment is les s determined by individual factors. Changes in distress and musculoskeletal symptoms are dependent on employment, particularly among construction work ers.