Tobacco use among the job-seeking unemployed in California.

Abstract

Given the current economic climate, with 8.1% unemployment nationally and 10.6% among the Californian labor force in August 2012, employers can be more selective in their hiring decisions, and individuals who smoke may be at a serious economic disadvantage. The current study examined the association between cigarette smoking and employment status among adults in California, a state with strong antitobacco sentiment. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from the 2007 and 2009 California Health Interview Survey on 68,501 noninstitutionalized adults age 20-65. The job-seeking unemployed had the highest smoking prevalence (20.9%) relative to the non-job-seeking unemployed (15.9%) and employed (14.8%). In a multivariate multinomial logistic regression that controlled for demographic factors and other risk characteristics (obesity, binge drinking), current (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.23, 95% CI=1.01-1.49) but not former smoking status (AOR=0.95, 95% CI=0.76-1.19) was significantly associated with being unemployed and job-seeking. Smokers in California were more likely than never and former smokers to be unemployed. Employment service agencies may be well placed for reaching smokers and treating tobacco dependence.