Life expectancy falls for poorest women


Poor quality and stressful work has contributed to widening health inequalities over the last decade, according to new research. 


The review by Professor Michael Marmot, carried out 10 years after his landmark study, Fair society, healthy lives, found that for the first time in more than 100 years, life expectancy has failed to improve. It has actually fallen for the poorest 10% of women. The amount of time people spend in poor health has also increased since 2010. 


The report says that while being in good employment is usually protective of health, poor quality or stressful work can be more damaging to health than being unemployed. It points to increases in low-paid, unskilled, self-employed, short-term or zero-hours-contract jobs and says rates of self-reported work-related stress, depression and anxiety have been increasing, at least partly as a result of poor-quality work. 


Echoing union calls for fair and decent work, its recommendations include reducing high levels of poor-quality work and precarious employment to address health inequalities.


https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on