Abstract
The extensively studied interplay between mental health and labor life trajectories has traditionally been obscured by the intricate challenge of reverse causality. This paper sheds light on the matter exploring the association between a genetic predisposition towards depression, established prior to an individual’s entry into the labor market, and a comprehensive set of labor outcomes. We use data from the United States (US) Health and Retirement Study (HRS), incorporating both polygenic indexes (PGI) and detailed labor histories. Our results show that individuals with a higher genetic predisposition towards depression gravitate towards occupations characterized by lower salaries, as measured by the National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates database. However, female with a heightened genetic predisposition toward depression symptoms, specifically, tend to experience shorter work tenures when compared to their male counterparts with a similar elevated risk. By examining information about occupational tasks and characteristics from the Occupational Tasks Data and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database, we show that individuals with an increased risk of depressive symptoms tend to hold positions characterized by fewer abstract tasks, reduced interpersonal interactions, and worse structural job characteristics. Nonetheless, male alone, do also hold occupations featuring more manual and routine-based tasks, greater occupational hazards, and overall inferior working conditions. These insights contribute to a richer understanding of the intricate dynamics entwining genetics, mental health, and labor life trajectories.