The contribution of arthritis and arthritis disability to nonparticipationin the labor force: A Canadian example

Objective. To examine the factors affecting labor force participation and u nderstand how arthritis affects labor force participation in a Canadian wor king population. Methods. Data from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey population (n = 35,221) w ere used. Labor force participation was dichotomized as in the labor force and not in the labor force. Stratified logistic regression analyses by sex were carried out to identify factors associated with not being in the labor farce, including arthritis, chronic disorders, and sociodemographic and fa mily composition variables. Results. Overall, 6.7% of men and 23.0% of women were not in the labor forc e compared with 18.6% and 36.0%, respectively, of men and women with arthri tis. After controlling for other covariates, disability caused by arthritis was significantly associated with increased risk of being out of the labor force, with odds ratios of 2.70 for men and 1.91 for women. Low education, pain, and nonarthritis disability were also significantly associated with being out of the labor force. The effects of age and family structure on em ployment were sex dependent. Women were at higher risk at all age groups. M en with dependent children were more likely to work, as were women who live d alone. For women. having dependent children increased the likelihood of n ot being in the labor force. Conclusion. People with arthritis disability were more likely to be out of the labor force. It was not arthritis per sc that limited people in labor f orce participation, but rather the arthritis disabilities.