Highlights

Shift workers

• Shift working was defined as ‘working outside the hours of 7am to 7pm in your main job’. 
• Around one third of men and one fifth of women reported that they did shift work.
• Shift working was most common in the 16-24 age group and least common among those aged over 55. 
• The proportion of men and women in shift work was highest among those in the lowest income households.

Health

• Both men and women in shift work were more likely than non-shift workers to report fair or bad health.
• Shift workers were more likely than non-shift workers to have a limiting longstanding illness; they were also more likely to have more than one longstanding illness.

Weight 

• Shift workers were more likely than non-shift workers to be obese. 
• Men and women in shift work were more likely than non-shift workers to have diabetes. 10% of men and women in shift work had diabetes, compared with 9% and 7% of men and women not in shift work.       

Smoking

• Cigarette smoking was higher among shift workers than non-shift workers, with a larger difference among women than men. 26% of women in shift work smoked compared with 15% of women who did not do shift work. 

Drinking

• The proportion of men and women who drank alcohol in the last year was slightly smaller among shift workers.

Diet

• Daily fruit and vegetable consumption was lower among shift workers than non-shift workers. Shift workers were also slightly less likely than non-shift workers to meet government recommendations of eating five or more portions per day.