Unemployment linked to risk of early death

The study by Durham University also showed that residents of these areas were much more likely to suffer from illnesses such as arthritis, asthma, heart conditions and back problems.

Geographers based at Durham University’s Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, used information from more than 200,000 people from the Office for National Statistics longitudinal study.

It took into account a range of factors such as age, sex and mobility and populations were compared in groups of areas, according to local levels of employment.

Assisted by the University’s Wolfson Research Institute, the researchers believe that the findings indicate the importance to health of regional policies and targeted employment initiatives.

Study co-author Professor Sarah Curtis, said: “Employment rates affect local conditions that are important for the health of everyone in an area, not only workers who may be in or out of work.

“It is important to sustain efforts to create and support permanent jobs in areas with persistently low employment rates, not least because this is important for the health of the population.

“Investment in secure employment and healthy working conditions is likely to reduce costs to society in terms of health and social care provision, and welfare benefit payments.

“Low employment and reports of poor health are connected.”

The findings are published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.