Number 168 � April 25, 1989 

Advance 

Data 

From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics 

Health Characteristics of Workers by Occupation and Sex: 

UnitedStates, 1983-85 

by John Gary Collins, M. B.A., 

During the past two decades there 

has been a continuous increase of 

women in the labor force, in absolute 

numbers and as a percent of the total. 

For example, the annual average number of women in the labor force increased from 37.5 million in 1975–76 

to 49.2 million in 1983-85. Whereas 

women accounted for 40.5 percent of 

the labor force in 1975-76, by 

19S3–S5 44 percent of the labor force 

was female (NCHS, 19S0). Because 

women have become a significant proportion of the labor force, it is both 

possible, and timely, to compare the 

health characteristics of men and 

women in the labor force by their 

occupational categories. 

To accomplish this, national estimates of health characteristics of persons 1S years of age and over in the 

civilian noninstitutionalized population 

of the United States who were in the 

labor force for the years 1983-85 are 

presented in this report. These estimates include an occupational profilq 

percent with fair or poor respondentassessed health status; percent limited 

in activity because of chronic conditions; percent with 8 bed days or more 

in the past 12 months; numbers of 

restricted-activity, bed disability, and 

work loss days per person per year; 

percent with a physician visit in the 

and Owen T. Thornberry, Ph.D., Division of Health Interview Statistics 

past year; physician visits per person 

per year; hospital discharges per 100 

persons per year; average length of 

hospital stay; incidence rate of acute 

conditions per 100 persons per year; 

and the prevalence rate of selected 

chronic conditions per 1,000 persons 

per year. These estimates are based on 

data collected by the National Center 

for Health Statistics (NCHS) by 

means of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Data are shown 

for males and females and for 13 

occupational groupings. 

It should be noted that health 

characteristics among the occupational 

groupings may be affected by a number of demographic characteristics. A 

more detailed analysis of these data by 

age, sex, race, family income, and education of the individual will appear in 

a forthcoming NCHS publication, 

“Health Characteristics by Occupation 

and Industry of Employment: United 

States, 19S3–85” (NCHS, In press). 

NHIS data on health characteristics 

for the total civilian noninstitutionalized population are presented annually in the NCHS publication “Current 

Estimates From the National Health 

Interview Survey” (NCHS, 1986a, 

1986b, 1986c, 1987, and 1988). 

In addition, several NCHS publications have used occupation and 

industry as an analytic variable in 

addressing health characteristics such 

as respondent-assessed health status, 

disability days, and hospital discharge 

data (NCHS, 19S3a, 1983b, 19S5a, 

and 19S6d). 

Highlights 

�	 Women account for 94 percent of 

the labor force in private household occupations and about 

80 percent of those in administrative support occupations. 

�	 More than one in every four 

women in the labor force work in 

administrative support occupations. 

� Women in the labor force 

reported more restricted-activity, 

bed disability, and work loss days 

per person than did their male 

counterparts. Particularly high 

rates were reported among females in transportation and material moving occupations and 

among machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors. 

� Almost 86 percent of women in 

transportation and material moving occupations reported having a 

doctor visit in the past year. Females in this occupation also averaged a large number of doctor 

visits, 6.5per person per year. 

US. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Center for Health Statistics 

Public Health Service Manning Feinleib, M. D., Dr. P.H., Director 

Centers for Disease Control 
2 advancedata 

�	 Hospital discharge rates were 

higher for women in the labor 

force than for men, but the length 

of stay was higher among males. 

� Females working in transportation 

and material moving occupations 

reported a hospital discharge rate 

47 percent higher than for all currently employed women. 

� The incidence rate of acute conditions among women in protective 

service occupations and transportation and material moving occupations was double the rate of 

their male counterparts. 

�	 About one of every four women in 

transportation and material moving occupations; precision production, craft, and repair occupations 

and farming, forestry, and fishing 

occupations reported having 

chronic sinusitis. 

�	 The rate of hearing impairments 

among men in the labor force was 

almost double that of women. 

Men working as machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors; in 

farming, forestry, and fishing 

occupations; and in precision production, craft, and repair occupations reported the highest 

prevalence rates of hearing 

impairments. 

�	 Almost one out of every five 

women working in private household occupations had health status 

assessed as fair or poor. 

Background 

Information from the NHIS conducted by NCHS is based on data collected in a continuing nationwide 

survey by household interview. Each 

week a probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of 

the United States is interviewed by 

personnel of the U.S. Bureau of the 

Census. Information is obtained about 

the health and other characteristics of 

each member of the household. 

One of the strengths of the NHIS 

is the ability to combine data over 

multiple years. This increases the stability of the estimates because augmenting the sample size leads to 

smaller sampling errors, Combining 

data over time is possible because of 

the sampling design of NHIS and its 

use of standard questions over several 

years. Combining data is particularly 

desirable when making estimates for 

relatively rare events or population 

subgroups-in this case, occupational 

groupings. 

Data for this report are based on 

information obtained during 1983, 

1984, and 1985, and annual averages 

for these three years are presented. 

The questionnaires for 1983, 1984, 

and 1985 are shown in their entirety in 

the “Current Estimates From the 

National Health Interview Survey” 

reports for those years (NCHS, 1986a, 

1986b, and 1986c). 

A brief description of methods 

and procedures used in NHIS is given 

in the “Technical notes” section of this 

report. 

Occupational profile 

The labor force for the years 

1983-85was estimated to be 111.8 

million persons, of whom 62.6 million 

or 56,0 percent were males and 49.2 

million or 44.0 percent were females. 

Table 1 shows the percent distribution of the labor force occupations 

by sex. Whereas females made up 

44 percent of the labor force, there 

was a large difference in the percent 

of women in various occupations. Only 

8.5 percent of persons in precision 

production, craft, and repair occupations and 8.2 percent of those in 

transportation and material moving 

occupations were female. Conversely, 

94.0 percent of workers in private 

household occupations and 

79.9 percent of those in administrative 

support occupations were women. 

Table 2 shows the percent distribution of males and females in the 

labor force by occupation. More than 

half of the female labor force was concentrated in three occupational 

groups administrative support occupations, 26.3 percent; service occupations, 13.9 percent; and professional 

specialty occupations, 13,5 percent, 

The occupational distribution among 

males in the labor force was not as 

concentrated. Precision production, 

craft, and repair occupations were 

most prevalent, accounting for 

18.9 percent of males in the labor 

force. 

Health characteristics 

Respondent-assessedhealth 

status 

In the NHIS, health status is 

based on the respondent’s assessment, 

not on clinical evidence. Table 3 shows 

the percents of males and females in 

the labor force whose health was assessed to be either fair or poor, by 

occupational group. For the total labor 

force, 7.1 percent of females had their 

health assessed as fair or poor, 

whereas 6.4 percent of males had. 

There was a large variation among 

women in different occupational 

groups regarding the assessment of 

Table 1. Percent diatrlbution of persons 18 years of age and over In the labor force by 

sex, �ccording to employment status and occupation: United States,1983-85 

Employment status and occum#on 

To!al labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations. . 

Professional specialty occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Technicians and related supporl occupaucms . . . . . . . 

Sales cocupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Administrative supporiOccupations, Includh’ig clerlcal ., 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective service occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service occupations, except protective and household. . 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . 

Precistcn production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . 

Machine operators, assemblers, and Inspectors. . . . . . 

Transportation and material moving cmupatbns . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 

Unknown occupation and mlltlary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

All 

Male Female 

Percent dlstrtbutbn 

lWI.O 56.0 44.0 

IWO 56.2 43.8 

100.0 66.8 34.2 

100.0 60.8 49.2 

100.0 50.8 49.2 

100.0 52.5 47.5 

100.0 20.1 79.9 

lCO.O 6.0 94.0 

100.0 8s.5 14.5 

100.0 34.0 66.0 

Icm.o 64.5 15.5 

100.0 91.5 

100.0 58.8 4?; 

10U.O 91,8 8,2 

100.0 82.3 17,7 

100.0 55.1 44.9 

1(13.O 53.1 48.9 
advanceckita 3 

Table 2. Percent distribution of persons 18 years of age and over in the iabor force by their health. Only 3.6 percent of 

employment status and occupation, according to sex United States, 1983-85 women workers in professional 

Employmentstatusand occupetkm Male Female	 specialty occupations were assessed to 

be in fair or poor health, compared 

with 19.0 percent of women working 

Total labor force. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 in private household occupations. PriCurrertlly employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Ex6cutlve, acfmlnislrative, andmanagerial occupations . . . . . . 

Professional speckdtyoccupatlons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

93.4 

13.3 

11.0 

92.6 

1:! 

vate household occupations have a 

higher percent of older workers than 

Technlclens andrelabds upportoccupatlons. . . . . . . . . . . . 

S81esoccupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Admlnlstratlve suppo~occupalions, lncludingclerical . . . . . . . 

2.6 

9.7 

5.2 

3.3 

11.2 

26.3 

other occupations. This may explain 

part of this inordinately high rate. 

Prtvale household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective esrvlceoccupatkms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service occupattons,e xceptprotectivea ndhousehold . . . . . . 

0.1 

2.2 

5.6 

1.6 

1% 

More than 1 of every 10 women working as machine operators, assemblers, 

Farming, forestry, and flshlng occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Prsclsion production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . . . . . . 

Machine operators, assemblem, and Inspeotom. . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3 

18.9 

7.4 

1.0 

2.3 

6.6 

and inspector~ and handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers 

Transportation and material moving occupatbns. . . . . . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers . . . . . . . 

Unknown occupation andmllttary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6.6 

4.6 

1.6 

0.8 

1.3 

1.7 

also were assessed to be in fair or 

poor health. In contrast, among the 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.6 7.4 men, those in farming, forestry, and 

Percent dlslrlbution 

fishing occupations were reported to 

have the highest percent of fair or 

Tabie 3. Percent of maies and femaies 18 yeara of age and over in the iabor force with


respondent-assessed heaith status of fair or poor, by employment status and occupation: poor respondent-assessed health–


United States, 1983-85 10.8 percent.


Fair or poor assessed 

health status Limitation of activity due to 

Employmentstatusand occupatkm Male Female chronic conditions 

Total labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Percent 

6.4 7.1 Table 4 shows the percents of 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Executive, admlnl.straWe,andmanagerblo ccupeUons . . . . . . 

6.0 6.7 

3.8 4.4 

males and females in the labor force 

who are limited in activity because of 

Professbnal speclsltyoccuptdbns .,... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 3.6 chronic conditions. Limitation of activ- Technklans and related support cccupfdbns . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 5.6


Sales oocupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 6.3 ity refers to a person’s inability to per-


Adm[nletrattve support occupatbns, lncludingclericel . . . . . . . 5.2 

in form his or her major activity, a
 Private household occupetbns ..,,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *10.O


Protective servkeoccupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3 �6.9 limitation in the kind or amount of


Sewkeoccupatbns, except protective andhousehold . . . . . . 7.9 9.7 major activity, or a limitation in the
 Farming, forestry, and flshlngoccupatbns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.8 9.4


Precision prcductbn, craff, and repair occupations. . . . . . . . . 6.9 6.8 kind and amount of other activities.


Machine oparatore, assemblers, andlnspactom. . . . . . . . . . . 7.6 11.9 For the purpose of this analysis, if per-
 Transportation andmaterlal mov[ngoccupatbns. . . . . . . . . .


Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, end laborers . . . . . . . % Iu sons were limited in any of the three


Unknown occupatbn andmilttary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1: lZ	 ways mentioned above, they were considered to be limited in activity. For 

the total labor force, 8.4 percent of 

Table 4. Percent of males and femaies 18 years of age and over In the labor force who the females were limited in activity as 

�

United States, 1983-65 males. This is interesting because a 

Limitationof actMfy smaller percent of males perceived 

Employmentstatusand occupatbn Male Female their health to be fair or poor than did 

females. Women in private household 

re limited in activity due to chronic conditions, by employment status and occupation: compared with 9.5 percent of the 

Percent occupations reported the highest perTotal latmrforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 8.4 

Gurrently6mployed. ..,........,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

EXeCUtlVe,admlnlstrattie, end managerial occupatbns . . . . . . 

9.2 

8.9 

8.0 

7.5 17.3 percent, and 13.0 percent of 

Professional specialty occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Technicians and related supporl occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Selesoccupatlons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8.6 

9.4 

9.4 

7.5 

7.3 

6.5 

women in farming, forestry, and fishing occupations reported activity limiAdmlnlstrative support occupatbns, including clerical . . . . . . . 

Privafe household occupa!lons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective service Occupations, ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9.7 

*I 2.0 

9.2 

1;: 

8.2 

tation. In contrast, only 6.9 percent of 

females in administrative support 

Service occupations, except protective and household . . . . . . 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Preclslon production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . . . . . . 

10.9 

11.4 

8.5 

8.7 

13.0 

8.6 

occupations reported activity limitation. The huge number of young 

Machine op8rators, assemtiers, and inspectors. . . . . . . . . . . 

Transportation and material moving occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers . . . . . . . 

9.2 

8.8 

8.7 

8.3 

8.9 

9.4 

women in these administrative support 

occupations most likely had an effect 

Unknown occupation andmllitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 9.8 on the rate. The rate of activity limitacent with activity limitation, 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.8 12.6 tion across occupations was more 
4 acivancedata 

Table 5. Percent of males and females 18 years of age and over in the labor force who 

had 8 bed disability daya or more in the past 12 months, by employment status and 

occupation: United States, 1982-65 

8 bed days or mote 

inpest 12 months 

Employmentstatusand OCCUpStbr Meie Female 

Percent 

Total labor fores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 11.2 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 10.8 

Wsrcutive, administra!tve, and managerial occupations . . . . . . 5.8 10.1 

Professtonal spsclalty occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.0 

TechnWms and related supporloccupations. . . . . . . . . . . . z 12.1 

Selesoccupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 10.8 

Administrative support occupations, lncludhgclericaI . . . . . . . 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7.0 

*1 0.0 

10.4 

10.4 

Protective servlceoccupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 *14.2 

Service occupations, except protective and household . . . . . . 7.8 11.1 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 6.2 

Precision production, craft, andrepalr occupations. . . . . . . . . 7.0 12.1 

Machine operalors, assemblers, and inspectors. . . . . . . . . . . 7.7 10.6 

Transportation and material moving occupatbns. . . . . . . . . . 7.8 13.5 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpew, and laborers . . . . . . . 6.6 9.9 

Unknown occupation andmilitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *5.6 10.3 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.9 17.3 

stable among males, although men in farming, forestry, and fishing occupafarming, forestry, and fishing occupa- tions had a low percent with 8 bed 

tions reported a higher than average days or more, 8.2 percent; whereas 

rate of limitation of activity. among women in transportation and 

material moving occupations, 13.5 

Disability percent had 8 bed days or more 

Bed days in past 12 months—The in the past 12 months. The rates 

percents of males and females in the among males were relatively stable 

labor force who reported 8 bed days among the occupational groups. 

or more in the past year are shown by Dkbility days-Tllc number of 

employment status and occupation in restricted-activity, bed disability, and 

table 5. More than 11 percent of fe- work loss days per person per year for 

males reported 8 bed days or more in those in the labor force are presented 

the past 12 months, compared with by sex, employment status, and occu7.0 percent of the males. Women in pation in table 6. Females in the labor 

force reported 11.7restricted activity 

days per year compared with 8.6 days 

for males. Females in transportation 

and material moving occupations had 

the highest rate, 16.5 days per person, 

Women machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors also had a high 

rate of restricted-activity days, 13.9 per 

person, whereas those working in 

farming forestry, and fishing occupations reported only 7.7 days per person per year. Male machine operators, 

assemblers, and inspectors also reported a high rate of restricted-activity 

days, 10.4 per person. In contrast, 

males in sales occupations reported 

only 6.9 restricted-activity days per 

person per year, 

Females also reported a higher 

rate of bed disability days per year 

than did males, 4.6 days compared 

with 2.9 days. There was not much 

variation among the occupational 

groups for either sex, 

Currently employed women reported 5.5 work loss days per person 

per year compared with 4.3 days for 

males. Women working in transportation and material moving occupations 

and as machine operators, assemblers, 

and inspectors reported high rates of 

work loss days, 9.3 and 8.7 days per 

person per year, respectively. Females 

in private household occupations reported only 4.4 days per person per 

Tabie 6. Number of restricted-activity, bed disability, and work loss days per person per year for males and females 18 years of �ge �nd 

over in the iabor force, by employment statua and occupation: United States, 1982-65 

Restrkbd- Bad dtsebii#y W* ioss 

activitydays dap days 

Employmentstatusand occupation Male Female Maie Femaie Maie Female 

Number of days per person par year 

Tolal labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6 11.7 2.9 4.6 . . . ,,. 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 11.2 2.7 4.2 4.3 5,5 

Execufiie, administrative, and managerial occupations. . 7.2 11.2 2.5 4.4 3.3 5.2 

Professional specialty occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3 10.8 2.6 4.2 3.0 4.6 

Technicians and related support occupations . . . . . . . 7.7 12.2 2.6 3.9 3.8 5.7 

Sales occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.2 2.3 4.1 3.1 5.1 

Administrative support occupations, Including clerical . . R 10.6 2.4 4.1 4.0 5.2 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *6.4 10.7 *0.4 *3,6 *4.5 4.4 

Protective service occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 *13.3 3.1 *6, 6 4.4 *6, 1 

Setvice occupations, except protective and household. . 6.0 11.5 2.6 4.4 4.3 5.6 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . 8.2 7.7 3.2 �2.2 5.2 �3.3 

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . 8.6 12.5 2.8 4.0 4.9 7.5 

Machine operators, assemblers, and Inspectors. . . . . . 10.4 13.9 2.7 4.6 6.3 8.7 

Transportation and material moving occupa!bns . . . . . 9.6 16.5 2.8 *5.4 5.7 9.3 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 8.6 11.7 2.e �4.7 5.1 7.9 

Unknown occupation and mllita~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 13.8 *2,7 6.1 2.7 4.3 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.3 17.9 7.0 9.2 ... ... 
advanceciata 5 

Table 7. Utilization of physlclsn services by males �nd females 18 years of age and over 

In the labor force, by employment status and occupation: United States, 1983-85 

Physldan V/Sib 

I Percent wnh VLSI? Visils per person 

In past year per year 

Employment status and occupafbn Male Female Male Female 

Percent Number 

Total labxforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.8 78.5 3.3 5.6 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.2 76.5 3.2 5.5 

Executive, admlnhlratlve, and managerial occupatbns. . 66.6 60.4 3.7 6.4 

Professional speclslty occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67.2 63.4 3.6 6.3 

Tschnkians and related support occupetbns . . . . . . . 67.1 82.1 3.6 6.0 

Selesoccupatbn.s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.3 76.2 3.2 4.9 

Admlntstrative support cccupatbns, Includhg clerical . . 63.0 79.6 3.5 5.6 

Private household cccupalbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.0 72.0 �3.6 4.3 

Protective setviceoccupalbns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.4 81.0 3.3 5.7 

Service occupatbns, except projective and household. . 60.4 76.0 2.6 5.1 

Farming, forestry, and flshlng occupalbns . . . . . . . . . 54.9 72.1 2.6 3.6 

Preclsbn productbn, craft, and repair cxmrpations. . . . 59.2 75.1 2.9 5.1 

Machine operators, assemblers, and Inspectwa . . . . . 61.9 74.6 3.2 4.9 

Transportatbn and materiel moving cccupatbns . . . . . 61.6 65.7 3.0 6.5 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpsrs, and laborers. . . S8.4 74.2 3.1 4.7 

Unknown occupatbn and military, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.6 71.4 2.5 6.4 

Currently unemployed..........,.. . . . . . . . . . . 57.3 76.7 4.2 6.2 

farming, forestry, and fishing occupations to 6.5 visits for women working 

in the transportation and material 

moving occupations. Women working 

in exeeutive, administrative, and managerial occupations and professional 

specialty occupations also reported 

higher than average physician visit 

rates. There was little variation in the 

physician visit rate among males. At 

the lower end of the speetrum were 

men working in farming, forestry, and 

fishing occupations who had 2.6 visits 

per person per year, whereas at the 

upper end of the spectrum were men 

working in professional specialty oeeupations, who had 3.8 visits per person. 

Utilization of hospital service 

The short-stay hospital discharge 

rates and the average lengths of stay 

of males and females in the labor 

force are shown by employment status 

and occupation in table 8. 

Short-stay hospital discharges-The 

rate of hospital discharges among 

women was about 28 percent higher 

than for men, 10.1 compared with 7.9 

per 100 hundred persons per year, 

respectively. Females in transportation 

and material moving occupations reported a high of 13.8 discharges per 

100 persons, whereas women in professional specialty occupation adminyear. Work loss days among men were 

also high for machine operators, inspectors, and assemblers and those in 

transportation and material moving 

occupations. 

Utilization of physician services 

The percents of males and females in the labor force who had doctor visits in the past year and the 

number of doctor visits per year for 

each sex are shown by employment 

status and occupation in table 7, 

Percent with physician wkit in past 

year- Women were more likely than 

men to have visited a doctor in the 

past year. Almost four out of five 

women had seen a doctor in the past 

year whereas little more than three of 

five men reported a doctor visit. Females working in transportation and 

material moving occupations reported 

that 85.7 percent had a doctor visit in 

the past year, and 83.4 percent of 

women working in professional specialty occupations had a visit. In contrast, only 72.0 percent of women in 

private household occupations and 

72.1 percent of those in farming, forestry, and fishing occupations had a 

doctor visit in the last 12 months. 

Among males, those in white collar 

occupations professional specialty occupations; technician and related support oeeupations; and executive, 

administrative, and managerial occupations reported higher than average 

percents of workers with a doctor 

visit in the past year, approximately 

67.0 percent. Only 54.9 percent of 

men in farming, forestry, and fishing 

occupations had a doctor visit in the 

previous 12 months. 

Physician visits perperson per 

year-Females averaged 5.6 doctor 

visits per year compared with 3.3 visits 

by males. The visit rate among women 

ranged from 3.8 visits for those in 

Table 8. Utilization of hospital services by males and females 18 years of age and over in 

the iabor force, by employment status and occupation: United States, 1983-85 

Employment status and occupatbn 

Totaflalwrfor c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currentiyemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Executive, admlnistratlve, and managerial occupations. . 

Professional specialty occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TechnkXans and related support occuptdlons . . . . . . . 

Safes occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Administrative support Wcupatbns, Including clerical . . 

Private household occupalbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective service acupatbns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service Occupations, except protective and household. . 

Fanning, forestrj, and fishing occupatbns . . . . . . . . . 

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . 

Machine operators, 6ssembler3, and inSp6CtW3 . . . . . 

Transportatbn and materiel moving occupatbns . . . . . 

Handlem, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 

Unknown occupatbn and military. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

‘Excludes deliveries. 

Discharges from short-s!ay hospitals’ 

Discharges per 100 Average length 

persons peryesr of stay 

MaIe Femele M&rk Female 

Rate Number of davs 

7.9 10.1 6.3 5.5 

7.5 9.4 6.1 5.4 

6.5 9.1 5.7 5.2 

6.6 6.6 5.6 5.1 

7.5 11.5 6.6 5.4 

6.7 9.2 5.7 5.9 

6.6 8.7 7.0 5.4 

*6.O 10.7 *10.O *5.2 

7.6 *10.3 9.5 *5.9 

7.7 9.6 7.1 5.5 

7.1 6.6 6.7 *5.O 

7.7 122 5.6 5.2 

9.6 10.9 5.6 5.6 

7.6 13.8 6.2 *4.5 

6.0 10.7 6.6 *5.5 

10.2 6.5 �7. 1 

1~ 18.3 7.8 6.2 
6 advancedata 

Table 9. Incidence rates per 100 persons of ail acute conditions among males and 

femaiea 18 years of age and over in the labor force, by employment status and 

occupation: United States, 1983-85 

IncWencaof all 

acute condltbne 

Employmentstatusand occupslhwr Male Female 

Rate per 100 persons 

Total labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124.7 172.6 

Currently employed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126,1 173.6 

Executwe, adminlstratiie, and managerial occupations . . . . . . 117.0 1%3.0 

Professional specialty occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150.9 191.1 

Technicians and related suppat occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . 142.6 176.1 

Sales occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114.9 166.7 

Administrative suppwt occupsttons, including clerical , . . . . . . 145.9 175.7 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *74.O 111.5 

Protective service occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132.3 261.2 

Service occupations, except protective and household . . . . . . 125.0 175.2 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97.4 145.7 

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations . . . . . . . . 124.6 174.0 

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors. . . . . . . . . . . 135.0 151.7 

Transportation and material mov[ng occupatbns. . . . . . . . . . 103.9 206.1 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers . . . . . . . 141.6 131.2 

Unknown occupation and military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.3 117.6 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.4 160.5 

istrative support occupations; and 

farming, forestry, and fishing occupations reported only 8.6 to 8.8 discharges per 100 persons. 

Among males, the highest discharge rate was among those working 

as machine operators, assemblers, and 

inspectors, 9.6 per 100 persons. Men 

working as handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers reported 

only 6,0 hospital discharges per 100 

persons. 

Length of stay— Whereas the hospital discharge rate among women was 

higher than that among men, the average length of stay per discharge was 

lower among women, 5.5 days compared with 6.3 days among males. Although the rate of discharges varied 

widely among women in different occupations, there was very little difference among women in the average 

length of stay per discharge in the 

varying occupational groups. 

Among males, those in protective 

service occupations reported an average length of stay per discharge of 9.5 

days, which was 50 percent higher 

than for all males in the labor force. 

Incidence of acute conditions 

Table 9 contains the incidence 

rates per 100 persons from all acute 

conditions for males and females 18 

years of age and over in the labor 

force by employment status and occupation. Females had a higher 

incidence rate of acute conditions than 

males, 172.6 per 100 persons compared with 124.7 per 100 persons. 

There was a great deal of variation in 

the incidence rate for women among 

the occupational groups. Females in 

private household occupations had an 

incidence rate of 111.5 per 100 

persons whereas women in protective 

service occupations had a rate of 261,2 

per 100 persons. Women in transportation and material moving occupations; executive, administrative, and 

managerial occupations; and professional specialty occupations also had 

high incidence rates of 208.1,196,0, 

and 191.1 per 100 persons, respectively. 

Males in professional specialty 

occupations had a high incidence rate 

of 150.9 per 100 persons, whereas 

men in farming, forestry, and fishing 

occupations reported only 97.4 acute 

conditions per 100 persons. Interestingly, the incidence rate among males 

in transportation and material moving 

occupations was only 103.9 per 100 

persons or about half of the rate of 

208.1 reported by females in that 

occupational group. 

Selected chronic conditions 

The rates for selected high prevalence chronic conditions for persons 

18 years and over in the labor force 

are presented by sex, employment status, and occupation in table 10. The 

conditions shown are high blood pressure, hay fever, chronic sinusitis, 

arthritis, hearing impairment, and deformities or orthopedic impairment of 

the back. 

High blood pressure—The prevalence rate per 1,000 persons in the 

labor force from high blood pressure 

was lower among females than males, 

102.6 compared with 118.0 per 1,000. 

Women in private household occupations reported a very high prevalence 

rate of 220.1, whereas females in professional speeiaky occupations 

reported a rate of only 78.0 per 1,000 

persons. Interestingly, the prevalence 

rate of high blood pressure among 

males was highest among those in exeeutive, administrative, and managerial 

occupations, 150.7 per 1,000 persons. 

The rate among men working as handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and 

laborers was a very low 68.7 per 1,000. 

Hay fever— Women reported a 

higher prevalence rate of hay fever 

than did men, 118.3 per 1,000 persons 

compared with 98.3. The prevalence 

rate was particularly high for women 

working in technician and related support occupations; professional specialty occupations; and executive, 

administrative, and managerial owupations, 168.4, 151.3, and 142.0 per 

1,000 persons, respectively, Female 

machine operators, assemblers, and 

inspectors reported a rate of only 59.7 

per 1,000. Males working in professional specialty occupations and technician and related support occupations 

also reported high prevalence rates for 

hay fever. 

Chronic sinusitis-The prevalence 

rate from chronic sinusitis among 

women was 181,3 per 1,000 compared 

with 144.8 among men. Females in 

transportation and material moving 

occupations; precision production, 

craft, and repair occupations; and 

farming, forestry, and fishing occupations reported high rates of 256.1, 

235.6, and 234.5 per 1,000, respectively. Rates among women machine 

operators, assemblers, and inspectors 

were a relatively low 136.3 per 1,000 

persons. In contrast, the higher prevalence rates 
advanceckfta 7 

Table 10. Prevalence rates per 1,000 persons of selected chronic conditions among persons 18 years of age and over in the labor force, 

by sex, employment status, and occupation: United States, 1983-85 

Cond#lcn 

Deformity or 

H&h orfhopectti 

blood Hay Chronic H.6wtrKJ Impairment 

pressure fever slrrusifus Arthn7/s impairment of back 

Rate per 1,000 fwsons 

Sax, employmentstatus,and occupatbn 

Males 

Total labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currenllyemployed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Executive, admlnlstrattve, and managerial occupations. . 

Professional spaclalty occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Technkkins and related support occupations . . . . . . . 

Sales occupsdions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Admlnlstrattve support occupations, Including clerical . . 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective service occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service occupations, except protective and household. . 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . 

Preclslon production, craft, and repair occupations. . . . 

Machine operators, assemblers, end Inspeotm. . . . . . 

Transportatbn and material moving oocupatbns . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 

Unknown occupatbn and military. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Females 

Total labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 

Currently employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Exaculive, admlnlslrattve, and managerial occupatbns. . 

Professional specialty occupatbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

T’echnlclans and related supporl occupstbns . . . . . . . 

Sales occupalbns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Admlnlstrative sufIporl occupatbns, Including clerical . . 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Prolectlve servkaoccupatbns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service occupatbns, except protective and household. . 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupatbns . . . . . . . . . 

Preclsbn productbn, craft, and repair occupatbns. . . . 

Machine operators, assemblers, and Inspectors. . . . . . 

Transporfatbn and material moving occupatbns . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 

Unknown occupation and milltary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currenll yunemploye d, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

118.0 e6.3 144.8 

117.7 99.8 146.3 

150.7 123.3 159.9 

111.4 151.4 150.2 

95.4 144.9 167.9 

130.2 111.3 157.9 

120.8 106.4 163.4 

*_ ‘80.0 *460.O 

119.6 121.1 137.9 

111,4 62.1 126.5 

101.9 64.6 135.7 

116.1 77.6 147.9 

103.8 70.1 145.7 

119.2 73.9 149.1 

70.1 e7.7 

IF3 *54.2 *66.3 

121.9 77.3 124.1 

102.8 118.3 181.3 

102.7 117.8 181.1 

101.7 142.0 168.9 

78.0 151.3 197.0 

118.5 188.4 190.9 

66.8 113.4 160.4 

93.0 123.1 191.8 

220.1 *82.7 *1 46.3 

*5I .7 *43. 1 *112.1 

119.7 102.3 172.2 

*102.2 *36. 1 234.5 

135.4 114.6 235.6 

126,2 59.7 136.3 

*135.1 *1 02.7 256.1 

*115.9 *86.6 156.1 

137.6 �63.9 119.2 

101.6 124.2 184.1 

66.3 102.2 65.1 

89.5 103.5 64.4 

92.8 103.0 65.9 

81.7 91.8 62.4 

56.8 94.2 51.9 

95.4 7%.6 60.4 

72.7 80.0 60.4 

*360.O *- �60.O 

94.6 120.3 85.8 

76.7 91.5 68.5 

152.6 124.5 61.4 

100.6 124.3 70.1 

76.8 132.5 5a.7 

81.6 103.8 69.6 

66.4 66.7 81.4 

*70.2 *66.2 *36. 1 

70.9 82.9 74.4 

124.0 55.8 62.2 

122.3 55.9 81.3 

128.1 57.0 73.7 

95.1 53.3 92.4 

121.0 61.1 93.0 

120.3 59.7 

98.8 44.5 % 

260.6 *6 I .4 109.4 

*1 63.8 *73.3 94.8 

151.2 61.5 83.3 

178.4 *I 12.2 *86.2 

123.6 86.8 %3.2 

156.7 76.3 69.3 

�175.7 *24.3 *159.5 

145.3 �48.4 *60.3 

99.5 *27.O ‘30.7 

145.2 55.2 93.3 

machine operators, assemblers, and 

inspectors; among men in farming, 

forestry, and fishing occupations; and 

in precision production, craft, and repair occupations-132.5, 124.5, and 

124.3 per 1,000 persons, respectively. 

Deformi@or orthopedic impairment 

of back-The prevalence rate of deformity or orthopedic impairment of the 

back was higher among females than 

males, 82.2 compared with 65.1 per 

1,000 persons. Women in private 

household occupations had a high rate 

of 109.4per 1,000 persons. Among 

males, the highest prevalence was 

among workers in protective service 

occupations, a prevalence of 85.8 back 

impairments per 1,000 persons. 

The population figures used in 

computing rates in this report are 

found in table 11. 

among males were for those in technician and related support occupations 

and administrative support occupations. 

Arthritis-The prevalence rate 

from arthritis among females was 

about 40 percent higher than that for 

males, 124.0 compared with 88.3 per 

1,000 persons. Women in private 

household occupations reported an 

inordinately high prevalence rate of 

260.8, and those in farming, forestry, 

and fishing occupations had a high 

rate of 178,4 per 1,000. These rates 

may be age-related because these occupations have larger proportions of 

older persons. Women in administrative support occupations and professional specialty occupations reported 

prevalence rates that were under 100 

per 1,000 population. As among females, the prevalence rate from 

arthritis was high among males in 

farming, forestry, and fishing occupations. Men working in technician and 

related support occupations reported a 

low prevalence rate from arthritis, 56.8 

per 1,000 persons. 

Hearingimpairments-The prevalence rate of hearing impairments per 

1,000 persons in the labor force was 

almost twice as high for males as for 

females, 102.2 compared with 55.8 per 

1,000. About half of the occupational 

categories among the women had 

insufficient data for reliability. However, female machine operators, 

assemblers, and inspectors had a rate 

of hearing impairments that was almost 40 percent higher than the average for all females in the labor force. 

Among males, high rates of hearing 

impairments were found among 
8 advancedata 

Table 11. Population distribution of persons 18 years of age and over In the labor force 

by employment status, occupation, and sex United States, 1983-85 

All 

Employment status and occupation peffions Male Famale 

Tohllaborfo rce.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently employad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Executive, admlnlstra!tve, and managerial cxxupaUons . 

Professional specialty occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Technicians and related support occupations . . . . . . . 

Sales occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Admlnlstrative support occupations, including clerical . . 

Private household occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Protective servke occupations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Service occupations, except protective and household . 

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations . . . . . . . . . 

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations . . . . 

Machine operators, assemblers, and Inspectors. . . . . . 

Transportation and material moving occupations . . . . . 

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. . . 

Unknown occupation and military. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Currently unemployed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Populatbn In thousands 

111,770 62,581 

104,045 56,479 

12,616 8,299 

13,514 6,670 

3,259 1,656 

11,601 6,091 

16,215 3,262 

036 50 

1,595 1,363 

10,353 3,519 

3,210 2,719 

12,966 11,858 

7,881 4,633 

4,522 4,152 

3,659 3,011 

1,611 997 

7,725 4,102 

49,189 

45,568 

4,317 

6,644 

1,603 

5,510 

12,953 

786 

232 

6,834 

499 

1,108 

3,249 

370 

647 

614 

3.623 
advancedata 9 

References 

National Center for Health Statistics, C. S. 

Wilder. 1980. Selected health characteristics by occupation: United States, 1975–76. 

P?tal and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 

133. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 80-1561. 

Public Health Service. Washington U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, P. 

W. Ries. 1983a. Americans assess their 

health: United States, 1978. V?ta2and 

Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 142. 

DHHS Pub, No. (PHS) 83–1570. Public 

Health service. Washington U.S. Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, C. S. 

Wilder, 1983b. Disability days: United 

States, 1980. Vital and Health Statistics. 

Series 10, No. 143. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 

83-1571. Public Health Service. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, C. S. 

Wilder, 1985a. Hospitalization of persons 

under 65 years of age United States, 

1980-81. V7tal and Health Statistics. Series 

10, No. 152. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 

85-1580. Public Health Service. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, 

M. G. Kovar and G. S. Poe. 1985b. The 

National Health Interview Survey design,


1973-84, and procedures, 1975-83. Mtal


and Health Statistics. Series 1, No. 18.


DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 85–1320. Public


Health Service. Washington U.S. Govern­


ment Printing Office.


National Center for Health Statistics.


1986a. Current estimates from the Na­


tional Health Intewiew Survey United


States, 1983. Vital and Health Statistics.


Series 10, No. 154. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS)


86-1582, Public Health Service. Washing-


ton: U.S. Government Printing Office.


National Center for Health Statistics,


P. W. Ries. 1986b. Current estimates from


the National Health Interview Suwey


United States, 1984. Vital and Health Sta­


tistics, Series 10, No. 156. DHHS Pub. No.


(PHS) 86-1584. Public Herdth Semite.


Washin@on U.S. Government Printing


Office.


National Center for Health Statistics, A. J.


Moss and V. L. Parsons. 1986c. Current


estimates from the National Health Inter-


view Sumey United States, 1985. Vital and


Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 160.


DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 86-1588. Public


Herdth Service. WashingJom U.S. Govern­


ment Printing Office.


National Center for Health Statistics, C. S. 

Wilder. 1986d. Disability days United 

States, 1983. Etal and Health Statistics. 

Series 10, No. 158. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 

87–1586. Public Health Service. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, D. 

A. Dawson and P. F. Adams. 1987. Current estimates from the National Health 

Interview Survey United States, 1986. 

V7faland Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 

164. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 87-1592. 

Public Health Service. Washington: U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, C. A. 

Schoenbom and M. Marano. 1988. Current estimates from the National Health 

Interview Survey: United States, 1987. 

V?tal and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 

166. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 88-1594. 

Public Hcullh SeMce. Washington U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

National Center for Health Statistics, J. G. 

Collins. In press. Health characteristics by 

occupation and industry United States, 

1983-85. Etal and Health Statistics. Series 

10. No. 170. Public Health Service, DHHS, 

Hyattsville, Md. 
--

10 advancedata 

Symbols 

- Data not available 

,.. Category not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less than 

0.05 

z	 Quantity more than zero but less than 

500 where numbers are rounded to 

thousands 

* Figure does not meet standard of 

reliability or precision (more than 

30-percent relative standard error) 

#	 Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirements 
advancedata 11 

Technical notes 

The National Health Interview 

Survey (NHIS) is a continuous, crosssectional, nationwide survey conducted 

by household interview. Each week a 

probability sample of households in 

the civilian noninstitutionaltied population of the United States is interviewed by personnel of the U.S. 

Bureau of the Census to obtain information on the health and other characteristics of each member of the 

household. A description of the survey 

design, methods used in estimation, 

and general qualifications of the NHIS 

data is provided in “Current Estimates 

From the National Health Interview 

Survey” for 1983,1984, and 1985 

(NCHS, 1986a, 1986b, and 1986c). 

The NHIS sample for the 3 years 

1983-85 was composed of about 

117,000 eligible households, containing 

approximately 303,000 persons living 

at the time of interview. The total 

noninterview rate for the NHIS was 

about 3.7 percent. 

A description of the survey design, 

methods used in estimation, and general qualifications of NHIS data was 

published previously (NCHS, 1985b). 

Because the estimates shown in this 

report are based on a sample of the 

population rather than on the entire 

population, they are subject to sampling error. Sampling errors for most 

of the estimates are relatively low. 

However, where an estimated number, 

or the numerator or denominator of a 

rate or percent is small, the sampling 

error may be large. 

h asterisk is placed beside certain figures to indicate more than 

30-percent relative standard error. 

Figures marked with an asterisk are 

given primarily to allow the reader to 

combine them with related estimates, 

thereby possibly producing a more 

reliable overall estimate for a broader 

category. 

The number of currently 

employed persons estimated from the 

NHIS will differ from the estimates 

prepared from the Current Population 

Survey (CPS) of the U.S. Bureau of 

the Census for several reasons. In addition to sampling variability, the estimates include three primary 

conceptual differences: 

1.	NHIS estimates are for persons 

18 years of age and over; CPS 

estimates are for persons 16 

years of age and over. 

2.	 NHIS uses a 2-week reference 

period; CPS uses a l-week reference period. 

3.	 NHIS is a continuing survey 

with separate samples taken 

weekly CPS is a monthly sample taken for the survey week 

that includes the 12th of the 

month. 

h this report, terms such as “similar” and “the same” mean that no 

statistically significant difference exists 

between the statistics being compared. 

Terms relating to difference (for example, “greater” or “less”) indicate 

that differences are statistically significant. The t-test, with a critical value of 

~ 1.96 (().05 level of significance), was 

used to test all comparisons discussed. 

Lack of comment regarding the difference between any two statistics does 

not mean that the difference was 

tested and found to be not significant. 

The estimated standard error parameters and the general rules for determining standard errors for data in 

this report can be found in the NCHS 

publication “Health Characteristics by 

Occupation and Industry United 

States, 1983–85” (NCHS, in press). 

*U.S.GOVERNMENT PRINTINC 0FFICE:1989 -241-281 :8!3023

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Suggested citation 

National Center for Health Statistics, J, G. Collins 

and 0, T, Thornberry, 1989. Health characteristics 

workers by occupation and sex United States, 

1983-85. Advance Da@ From Vital and Health 

Statistics. No. 188, DHHS Pub, No. (PHS) 89-1250. 

Public Health Service. Hyattaville, Md. 

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