The effects of cancer on older workers in the English labour market

The continued rise in overall cancer survival rates has ignited a field of research which examines the effect that cancer has on survivors’ employment. Previous estimates of the effect of cancer on labour market outcomes, using U.S. data, show significant reductions in employment in the first 6 months after diagnosis. However, this impact has been found to dissipate after 12 and 18 months. I use data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and find that, in England, where there is a more generous welfare support system, not only does cancer have a negative impact in the first 6-month period following diagnosis, but also in the second 6-month period. I estimate that, in the second 6-month period after diagnosis, respondents with cancer are 12.2% points less likely to work and work 4.2 fewer hours a week when compared to matched, healthy controls. This suggests that the negative effects from cancer can persist for longer than the six months identified previously. These results have implications for government policy and employers, because it increases the length of time that survivors may be on government supported sick pay, and the expected time that workers will be absent from work due to illness.