Although worldwide tobacco consumption is declining, the figures are still alarming: according to the World Health Organization, over eight million people die from it every year, including 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.
In addition to these health consequences, tobacco may also have a direct impact on smokers’ economic prospects. A research team found evidence of this after analysing data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns survey, which follows 3,596 participants born between 1962 and 1977 from different regions of Finland.
By cross-referencing this information with data on the labour market and the social background of participants, the researchers explored the impact of smoking on income and employment between 2001 and 2019.
To measure this impact, the scientists used “pack-years”, a unit combining the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the duration of consumption. For example, 10 pack-years correspond to one pack smoked every day for 10 years.
The researchers found that one additional unit of pack-years led to a 1.8% drop in income. In other words, reducing tobacco consumption by five pack-years could increase income by 9%.
They also observed that an additional pack-year reduced the time spent in employment by 0.5%.
In short, heavy smokers bear the brunt of their nicotine dependence, both financially and professionally. One interesting point is that the wage gap between smokers and non-smokers is particularly marked among young, low-skilled workers, although the difference tends to narrow with age.
This phenomenon could be explained by the growing rejection of smoking among younger generations, where it is becoming less and less prevalent.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope: former smokers, unlike those who continue to smoke into adulthood, escape these economic losses.
The findings highlight how tobacco not only harms health – it also jeopardises the financial and professional prospects of smokers. By shedding light on the hidden costs of smoking, public decision-makers could not only encourage healthier behaviour but also strengthen the economic prospects of younger generations.
