Self-reported symptoms or activity limitations and job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) 2024-12
• Main Authors: Okahara, S, Fujino, Y, Nagata, T, Kuwamura, M, Mafune, K, Muramatsu, K, Tateishi, S, Ogami, A, Mori, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqae132

Previous studies have reported the impact of a diagnosed disease or self-perceived poor overall health on job loss. However, evidence is lacking on which self-reported symptoms or activity limitations are related to job loss, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We investigated whether self-reported symptoms or activity limitations were correlated with the occurrence of job loss within 1 year during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this prospective cohort study, we used questionnaires administered to Japanese workers. A baseline survey conducted in December 2020 was used to determine workers' symptoms or activity limitations. Experiencing job loss since the baseline survey was ascertained with a follow-up survey in December 2021. The odds ratios of experiencing job loss were estimated using a logistic model with adjusted covariates. Men (n = 8682) accounted for 58% of the total sample (n = 14 910), and the respondent mean age was 48.2 years. Multivariate analysis showed that workers with pain-related problems; limited physical movement and mobility; fatigue, loss of strength or appetite, fever, dizziness and moodiness; mental health problems; sleep-related problems or eye-related matters had a greater probability of experiencing job loss owing to health reasons. Several self-reported symptoms or activity limitations can lead to job loss after 1 year, indicating that prevention and resolution of symptoms or activity limitations are important to reduce workers' risk of losing their jobs.