A new study in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, a journal from Oxford University Press, has revealed an alarming link between smoking and lower earnings for younger workers, particularly those who have less formal education. The study looks at data from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study and reveals that smoking harms health and also has serious money-related effects, especially for young people with less education. 

it is well known that smoking can be detrimental for people’s health. There are many studies that show the dangers it brings. It is one of the main reasons for cancers, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that smoking accounted for about 14% of all deaths around the world. Even though smoking rates have been going down since the 1990s, in 2019, about 18% of women and 27% of men in wealthy countries were still smokers. 

A 2021 study published in BMC Public Health sheds light on gender-wise smoking rates in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), using data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). The findings highlight both progress and challenges in tackling smoking, with notable differences across countries.

In India, smoking rates have seen a significant drop over the years. Among men, smoking decreased from 24.3% in 2009 to 19.0% in 2016, showing a decline of 21.7%. Women's smoking rates also fell, from 2.9% in 2009 to 1.9% in 2016, marking an even more substantial decline of 33.6%. This sharp reduction is a positive sign that awareness campaigns and health policies are making a difference, especially for women, who had a much lower starting point.

Bangladesh shows a similar trend of progress. Smoking among men decreased from 44.7% in 2009 to 36.2% in 2017, with a 19.0% overall drop. Women's smoking rates, which were already very low, saw an even more dramatic fall, from 1.5% in 2009 to just 0.8% in 2017—an impressive 49.0% decrease. This suggests that public health efforts are making an impact, particularly among women, even in a society where smoking is more prevalent among men.

In contrast, China, despite its large population, experienced a smaller decline in smoking rates. Men's smoking rates dropped slightly from 52.9% in 2010 to 50.5% in 2018, a modest 4.5% decrease. Women's smoking rates remained almost unchanged, from 2.4% in 2010 to 2.1% in 2018, reflecting a more stagnant trend. While the decline is less significant in China compared to India and Bangladesh, the overall pattern of lower smoking rates among women remains consistent.

What stands out across these countries is the gender disparity in smoking rates. Men continue to smoke at much higher rates than women, even though the overall smoking rates are on the decline. In India and Bangladesh, the gender gap is gradually narrowing, with women's smoking rates decreasing at a faster pace than men's. However, in China, the gap remains large, with men still overwhelmingly outnumbering women in smoking habits.

These statistics not only show progress but also emphasize that there’s still much work to be done. While declines in smoking rates are a cause for optimism, especially for women, the gender disparity continues to be a significant challenge. As these nations move forward, the focus must remain on continuing to raise awareness and encourage healthier habits across both genders. The journey is far from over, but the progress made so far gives hope for a healthier, smoke-free future for all.

But smoking affects more than just our health. Smoking can hurt your chances of doing well in the job market. This might be because it can lower your physical fitness, performance, and productivity, especially in jobs that require a lot of physical effort. Additionally, the negative views about smoking can result in unfair treatment and bias, which may impact job growth and career opportunities. 
Also See

A team of researchers looked at information from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. This study followed 3,596 people born between 1962 and 1977, coming from both cities and the countryside in Finland. They connected this information with job market results from Statistics Finland and family background details from the Longitudinal Population Census. The study looked at people between 24 and 39 years old, giving us important information about how smoking affects younger workers. 

The researchers examined smoking using a metric known as "pack-years." This helps them understand how much tobacco someone has been exposed to over time. A pack-year is a way to measure smoking. You find it by taking the average number of cigarettes someone smokes each day and multiplying that by the number of years they've been smoking. For example, if someone has a 10-pack-year history, it means they have smoked one pack of cigarettes every day for ten years. 

The research showed that for each extra unit of packyears, earnings decreased by 1.8%. Cutting down on smoking by five pack-years might boost your earnings by 9%. That's a significant change! The study also discovered that for every extra pack-year, there was a 0.5% drop in the number of years people were employed. 

The study revealed an important discovery: younger workers who smoke tend to earn significantly less than their nonsmoking peers, especially those with lower education levels. Smoking can really hurt how much money people make, especially for those who haven't had as much education. This group tends to feel the negative effects of smoking even more.

Surprisingly, the research found that older workers did not experience the same effects. It seems that smoking can have a bigger impact on jobs and income for younger people. This is especially true now when fewer young people are smoking. 

The researchers discovered that the negative impact on earnings was only seen in people who currently smoke. People who used to smoke, even if they smoked a lot in the past, didn't see their earnings fall as much. Quitting smoking could help reduce the negative impacts on your job and how much money you make. 

Jutta Viinikainen, who led the study, highlighted how smoking can have lasting economic effects, especially for young people with less education. “Smoking when you're young can really affect your job and how much money you make later on. People with less education feel these effects the hardest,” said Viinikainen. “These results show that we need rules that tackle the unseen costs of smoking and encourage healthier choices.” 

This study highlights why we need to address smoking through policies. It's not just about health; it's also about keeping our economy strong. Policymakers should think about how smoking affects the economy, particularly for younger and less educated workers who might have a harder time finding jobs.

This study reveals the often-overlooked economic costs of smoking, especially for younger workers and individuals with less education. As fewer people are smoking these days, those who still do might face some tough challenges. 

This could hurt their jobs and how much money they make in the future. The results highlight the need for more focus on smoking-related policies. These policies should work to lower health risks and also lessen the economic effects of smoking.