Employment and Health Among Low-Income Adults and Their Children: A Review of the Literature

This Mathematica literature review features the causal relationship between employment and health among low-income Americans. Instead of cause and effect, research has mostly emphasized the correlational relationship of changes in employment and health; this prior work mainly reflected findings from outside the United States. The research in this current review assessed whether a causal relationship exists between work environment and health, since a job’s nature and quality might affect one’s health. The review’s findings might help guide the design of programs to improve health or employment outcomes for U.S. low-income adults and children.