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Economic consequences of workplace injuries in the United States: Findings from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79)
Author(s) -
Dong Xiuwen Sue,
Wang Xuanwen,
Largay Julie A.,
Sokas Rosemary
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22559
Subject(s) - national longitudinal surveys , medicine , earnings , occupational safety and health , injury prevention , longitudinal study , poison control , cohort , confounding , suicide prevention , economic inequality , human factors and ergonomics , environmental health , demography , occupational injury , inequality , demographic economics , economics , finance , mathematical analysis , mathematics , pathology , sociology
Background This study explored economic consequences of work‐related injuries using a longitudinal data source. Methods Data were from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort (n = 12,686). Short‐term consequences were measured when the injury was reported. “Difference‐in‐differences” approach was applied to estimate income and wealth disparities between injured and non‐injured workers before and after injury. Fixed effects models were used to identify variations over time. Results The annual earnings growth was $3,715 (in 2000 dollars) less for workers with DAFW injury and $1,152 less for workers with NDAFW injury compared to non‐injured workers during a 10‐year follow‐up. Lost wages and disability following injury contributed to income loss for injured workers, but the loss was moderated by union membership. After controlling for confounders, income disparities persisted, but family wealth differences did not. Conclusions Occupational injuries exacerbate income inequality. Efforts to reduce such disparities should include workplace safety and health enforcement. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:106–118, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.