55 percent work full time, more than two-thirds are in households with two or more workers, and seven percent hold two or more jobs themselves. Even among those who work full time, only 44 percent are in jobs that offer health insurance coverage and only 21 percent are covered by a pension plan. Among persons who are employed, those in fair or poor health are much less likely to report job advancement in the past year. While 29 percent of those in excellent, very good, or good health say they were promoted in the past year and received an increase in pay, just 17 percent of those in fair or poor health report this. Persons in fair or poor health also work under different conditions and with fewer rewards than persons in excellent, very good, or good health.
Poor health is both a cause and consequence of employment problems.
Employment Picture for Persons with High Levels of Depressive Symptoms Californians with high levels of depressive symptoms, like persons with physical health problems, have lower rates of employment and, among those who are employed, poorer working conditions and lower earnings. Persons with and without high levels of depressive symptoms differ in other characteristics that jeopardize employment. Not only do persons with high levels of depressive symptoms fare poorly in employment, but among those who do not have high levels of depressive symptoms initially, the subsequent loss of a job can lead to the onset of depressive symptoms. The study was conducted for The Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco by The Field Institute. The 2000 survey represents year three of a longitudinal study under a grant from The California Wellness Foundation.