Difference in All-Cause Mortality between Unemployed and Employed Black Men: Analysis Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III

The Black-White racial employment disparity and its link to mortality have demonstrated the health benefits obtained from employment. Further, racial/ethnic mortality disparities existing among men with different employment statuses have been previously documented. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between employment status and all-cause mortality among Black men. Data for the study was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III 1988–1994 linked to the NHANES III Linked Mortality File. Cox proportional hazard models were specified to examine the association between health behaviors and mortality in Black men by employment status. Among those who were assumed alive (n = 1354), 41.9% were unemployed. In the fully adjusted model, unemployed Black men had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval or CI [1.33, 1.92]) compared to Black men who were employed. These results highlight the impact of employment on all-cause mortality among unemployed Black men and underscore the need to address employment inequalities to reduce the mortality disparities among Black men.