People who are precariously employed face a 20% higher risk of premature death than those with secure employment

Swedish researchers found jobs with short contracts, low wages and a lack of influence, predictability and security contribute to the risk of death. The study revealed that people who switched from precarious to secure employment had a 20% lower risk of death, regardless of what happened afterward, compared to those who remained in precarious employment. If they remained in secure employment for 12 years, the risk of death decreased by 30%. The study adds to work by researchers around the world attempting to understand how precarious employment affects worker health.