We estimate the effect of job loss on objective measures of physiological dysregulation using biomarker measures collected by the Health and Retirement Study in 2006 and 2008 and longitudinal self-reports of work status. We distinguishing between mass or individual layoffs, and business closures. Workers who are laid off from their job have lower biomarker measures of health, whereas workers laid off in the context of a business closure do not. Estimates matching respondents wave-by-wave on self-reported health conditions and subjective job loss expectations prior to job loss, suggest strong effects of layoffs on biomarkers, in particular for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). A Layoff could increase annual mortality rates by 10.3%, consistent with other evidence of the effect of mass layoffs on mortality.
Keywords: Biomarkers; Health; Job loss; SES-health gradient.