Deborah Schofield of Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health was the lead researcher of the study. She noted that managers and administrators were significantly less likely to suffer neoplasms, or cancerous tumors, than all other level of workers.
Moreover, bosses also had a moderately lower risk of developing mental health problems and musculoskeletal conditions.
"Possible reasons for this include managers being less exposed to cancer risk factors or being able to afford to stop working when their health deteriorates," Dr. Schofield explains.
The study was conducted among 4,200 Australian workers aged 45 to 64, looked at which industries and occupational groups have higher numbers of older workers with chronic work-limiting health conditions.
Other significant findings were that retail trade employees were more likely to develop arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions, while workers in the health and community services like nurses, care givers and midwives, had the highest rates of cardiovascular disease.
Schofield said the study confirms that the impact of chronic health problems would be felt hardest in the retail, health and community services sectors. These two industries accounted for a quarter of Australia's workforce.
"Given Australia's aging population, emerging workforce shortages, and with chronic disease affecting the majority of the workforce, measures to prevent illness may be an important strategy for increasing future labor force participation," the researchers wrote.
