Although prior research documents adverse health consequences of precarious work, we know less about how chronic exposure to precarious work in midlife shapes health trajectories among aging adults. The present study uses longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study to consider how histories of precarious work in later midlife (ages 50–65) shape trajectories of health and mortality risk after age 65. Results show that greater exposure to unemployment, job insecurity, and insufficient work hours in midlife predicts more chronic conditions and functional limitations after age 65. Characteristics of precarious work also predict increased mortality risk in later life. Findings indicate few gender differences in linkages between precarious work and health; however, women are more likely than men to experience job insecurity throughout midlife. Because precarious work is unlikely to abate, results suggest the need to reduce the health consequences of working in precarious jobs.

尽管先前的研究记录了不稳定工作对健康的不利影响，但我们对中年长期从事不稳定工作如何影响老年人的健康轨迹知之甚少。本研究使用健康与退休研究的纵向数据来考虑中年后期（50-65 岁）不稳定工作的历史如何塑造 65 岁后的健康和死亡风险轨迹。结果表明，失业、工作不安全、中年工作时间不足预示着 65 岁后会出现更多慢性病和功能受限。不稳定工作的特征也预示着晚年死亡风险增加。调查结果表明，不稳定的工作与健康之间的联系几乎没有性别差异；然而，女性比男性更有可能在整个中年经历工作不安全感。