Occupational disparities in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Japan

Background

We examined occupational disparities in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Japan.

Methods

Cross-sectional online surveys were conducted among of residents living in Iwate Prefecture from July 2 to 4 and from October 1 to 3 in 2021 (total n=17,914). Intention to get vaccinated for COVID-19 was assessed by self-report questions. We calculated odds ratios for vaccine hesitancy among occupational groups using logistic regression models controlling for covariates and stratified by age and sex groups.

Results

The overall prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 5.5% in our sample of working-age adults. Women <40 years were also 1.6 times more likely to be vaccine hesitant, citing concerns about adverse effects on pregnancy or breastfeeding. Among people aged 40–59 years, workers in the service industry, manufacturing industry, and the unemployed were significantly more likely to have perceived vaccine hesitancy regardless of sex. Young service workers viewed themselves as being more vulnerable to risk of infection but less susceptible to getting severe disease, whilst exhibiting low levels of vaccine knowledge. Middle-aged (40–59 years) workers in the manufacturing industry underestimated both vulnerability to infection and disease severity, as well as demonstrated low knowledge of vaccines and practice of preventive measures.

Conclusions

While complex and heterogeneous reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy have been cited in Western countries (e.g., mistrust of government, medical mistrust, and conspiracy beliefs), the situation in Japan may be more amenable to educational interventions targeting specific occupations. Policymakers should target interventions for increasing vaccine readiness in high risk occupations.

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We investigated occupational disparities in vaccine hesitancy in late 2021 in Japan.

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Respondents had already received their first shot.

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Groups that had perceived higher vaccine hesitancy included women aged <40 years working in the service sector.

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Groups also included middle-aged workers in the manufacturing sector, service sector, and the unemployed.

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The situation in Japan may be more amenable to education interventions in specific occupations.

Work stress on rise? Comparative analysis of trends in work stressors using the European working conditions survey

Objective

The rapid transformation of labor markets has been accompanied by the belief of rising stress at work. However, empirical evidence on such trends based on reliable survey data is scarce. This study analyzes long-term trends in well-established measures of work stressors across Europe, as well as potential occupational differences.

Methods

We use repeated cross-sectional data of 15 European countries from waves 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 of the European Working Conditions Surveys. We apply three-way multilevel regressions (with employees nested in country-years, which are in turn nested in countries) to analyze trends in work stressors measured according to the demand-control and effort-reward imbalance models. Trends by occupational groups are also assessed.

Results

Our findings suggest that work stress generally increased from 1995 to 2015, and that the increase was mostly driven by psychological demands. People working in lower-skilled occupations had generally higher levels of job strain and effort-reward imbalance, as well as they tend to have a steeper increase in job strain than people working in higher-skilled occupations. Most of the change occurred from 1995 to 2005.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that work stress has been on rise since 1995, specifically for people working in disadvantageous occupations. This directs the attention to the vulnerable position of the least skilled and also to the use of preventive measures to counteract some of the disadvantages experienced by this occupational group.