Gender differences in health indicators by longest-held occupation and industry of longest employment

As more women enter the work force, they may increasingly come into contact with occupational and industrial hazards. The distribution of longest-held occupation and industry of longest employment and selected health indicators are presented for US men and women. These data are based on the National Center for Health Statistics' 1980 National Health Interview Survey, the first survey to collect data on longest-held, in addition to current, occupation and industry of employment. Data on limitation of activity, disability days, and physician and dentist visits are presented by categories of longest-held occupation and industry of longest employment. Overall, more men than women (except for younger female farm laborers and farm foremen) reported a limitation of activity due to chronic conditions; however, more women reported days of restricted activity. Female private household workers reported over a month of restricted activity. This study suggests the need to further investigate more direct health measures of female farm and agriculture workers and female private household workers.