Rising Inequality, Declining Health: Health Outcomes And The Working Poor

Data of this report show that those who are working but still live in poverty have worse health than those who are working and are not poor. In 2009, in Ontario, 49% of the working poor rated their health as excellent or very good as compared to 66% of those who had sufficient incomes. Similarly, 19% (almost 1 in 5) of people who were working and still poor rated their health as fair or poor compared to 8% of those who were not.

The health of those who have sufficient income has remained fairly stable between 1996 and 2009. However, the health of the working poor has deteriorated. The share with excellent or very good health has dropped from 68% to 49% in Ontario. During that same time the share with fair or poor health increased, from 8% to 19%.

Publication Date: 
2013
Location: 
Ontario, Canada