Job (in)security and Mental Health: an analysis using waves 1 and 2 of the HILDA Survey

By Marc Adam and Paul Flatau

Examines the relationship between the (a) level of job security experienced by Australian workers and mental health and well-being outcomes and (b) changes in the level of job security felt by Australian workers and changes in the level of mental health and well-being over time.

Waves 1 and 2 of the HILDA Survey are used for this purpose. We find strong evidence that job security and mental health and well-being are positively related and that a worsening in job security significantly adversely affects mental health and well-being outcomes.

(Paper presented to Australian Social Policy Conference; Looking Backward, Looking Forward, University of NSW, 20-22 July 2005)