Diverse workers on equal platforms, symbolizing health equity in the workplace.

Unmasking Workplace Inequity: How Better Data Can Pave the Way for Healthier, Fairer Jobs

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A call for comprehensive occupational health surveillance to bridge the gap in understanding and addressing work-related health disparities."

In the ongoing battle against health disparities, the workplace often remains a blind spot. While we diligently track various sociodemographic factors, occupation – a cornerstone of adult life – frequently gets overlooked. This oversight limits our understanding of how work impacts health, especially for vulnerable populations. Recent research highlights the urgent need for a more inclusive approach to occupational health surveillance.

The current surveillance systems, as pointed out by Ahonen et al., suffer from limitations in both data quality and content. Existing data often fail to capture the nuances of different work environments and their effects on specific populations. This inadequacy hinders our ability to develop targeted interventions and policies that address the root causes of work-related health inequities.

Fortunately, a new roadmap is emerging. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a groundbreaking report, "A Smarter National Surveillance System for Occupational Safety and Health in the 21st Century." This report offers a comprehensive review of existing data sources and pinpoints opportunities to improve and innovate our approach to occupational health surveillance. It's a call to action to integrate work into the broader conversation about population health.

Why Current Data Falls Short: The Invisibility of Social Determinants

Diverse workers on equal platforms, symbolizing health equity in the workplace.

One of the key challenges in addressing workplace health inequities is the lack of comprehensive data on social determinants. These are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, such as socioeconomic status, access to resources, and social support networks. When these factors are not adequately captured in occupational health surveillance systems, it becomes difficult to identify and address the underlying causes of health disparities.

In essence, what isn't measured is easily ignored. Critical data points that are often missing or incomplete include:

Race and Ethnicity: A more granular understanding of racial and ethnic backgrounds is crucial for identifying disparities.
Nativity: Place of birth and immigration status can significantly impact workplace experiences and health outcomes.
Business Size: Smaller businesses often have fewer resources for safety and health programs, increasing worker vulnerability.
Employment Arrangement: Factors such as contract work, temporary positions, and gig economy jobs can affect access to benefits and workplace protections.

These variables, when combined and analyzed, can reveal patterns of vulnerability and inform targeted interventions. For example, research has shown that non-native workers in smaller construction firms face overlapping vulnerabilities due to language barriers, lack of training, and precarious employment arrangements.

A Path Forward: Collaboration, Innovation, and a Commitment to Equity

Improving occupational health surveillance requires a multi-pronged approach. It demands collaboration between researchers, policymakers, employers, and community organizations. It necessitates innovative data collection methods that capture the complexities of work and its impact on diverse populations. And, above all, it requires a steadfast commitment to health equity – ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or occupation.

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Everything You Need To Know

Why is occupational health surveillance important in addressing workplace health inequities?

Occupational health surveillance is crucial because it helps us understand how work impacts health, especially for vulnerable populations. It allows us to identify and address the root causes of health disparities by examining factors like race, ethnicity, nativity, business size, and employment arrangements. Without this data, we cannot create targeted interventions and policies to improve worker well-being. The current systems, as pointed out by Ahonen et al., often fail to capture these nuances, hindering effective action.

What are the limitations of current occupational health surveillance systems?

Current systems suffer from limitations in data quality and content. They often fail to capture the nuances of different work environments and their effects on specific populations. This inadequacy hinders the ability to develop targeted interventions and policies. The existing data often overlooks critical social determinants of health, such as race, ethnicity, nativity, business size, and employment arrangement, making it difficult to understand and address health disparities.

How do social determinants of health impact workplace health?

Social determinants of health significantly influence workplace health outcomes. Factors such as socioeconomic status, access to resources, and social support networks play a crucial role. When these factors are not adequately captured in occupational health surveillance systems, it becomes difficult to identify and address the underlying causes of health disparities. For example, non-native workers in smaller construction firms may face overlapping vulnerabilities due to language barriers, lack of training, and precarious employment arrangements. Addressing these determinants requires collecting detailed data on race and ethnicity, nativity, business size, and employment arrangement.

What are some of the key data points that are often missing or incomplete in current surveillance systems?

Critical data points often missing or incomplete include race and ethnicity, nativity, business size, and employment arrangement. Collecting granular information on race and ethnicity helps identify disparities. Understanding nativity (place of birth and immigration status) reveals how workplace experiences and health outcomes vary. Business size impacts access to safety and health programs. Employment arrangement (contract work, temporary positions) affects access to benefits and workplace protections. Gathering these variables allows us to reveal patterns of vulnerability and inform targeted interventions.

How can we improve occupational health surveillance and promote health equity in the workplace?

Improving occupational health surveillance requires a multi-pronged approach involving collaboration between researchers, policymakers, employers, and community organizations. It demands innovative data collection methods that capture the complexities of work and its impact on diverse populations. A commitment to health equity is crucial, ensuring all workers have the opportunity to thrive. The 'A Smarter National Surveillance System for Occupational Safety and Health in the 21st Century' report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine offers a roadmap for improvement and innovation.