The impact of specific occupation on mortality in the US National Longitudinal Mortality Study

We compare mortality differences for specific and general categories of occ upations using a national cohort of approximately 380,000 persons aged 25-6 4 from the U.S. National Longitudinal Mortality Study. Based on comparisons of relative risk obtained from Cox proportional-hazards model analyses, hi gher risk is observed in moving across the occupational spectrum from the t echnical, highly skilled occupations to less-skilled and generally more lab or-intensive occupations. Mortality differences obtained for social status groups of specific occupations are almost completely accounted for by adjus tments for income and education. Important differences are shown to exist f or selected specific occupations beyond those accounted for by social statu s, income, and education. Highrisk specific occupations include taxi driver s, cooks, longshoremen, and transportation operatives. Low-risk specific oc cupations include lawyers, natural scientists, teachers, farmers, and a var iety of engineers.