Yesterday once more? Unemployment and health in the 21st century

Abstract

The relationship between economic recession, higher unemployment and poorer health is well established in the medical and social science research literature. Much of this research resulted from the last major economic recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s. Many parallels are being made between then and now. Therefore, this paper revisits this literature to ascertain what the unemployment consequences of the economic recession may mean for public health and health services. However, this research agenda paper also outlines key differences between then and now focussing on the structure of the welfare system and the organisation and experience of work. Therefore, it is not simply a case of ‘yesterday once more’ and public health research, policy and practice needs to be sensitive and responsive to these changes.