Work Conditions and Family Food Insecurity Among Adults Ages 18-64: United States, 2021

This report describes differences in the experience of family food insecurity in the past 30 days among working adults ages 18-64 by selected work conditions.

Using data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey on working adults ages 18-64, family food insecurity in the past 30 days was examined by selected work conditions, including type of work shift, work schedule inflexibilities, advance notice of work schedule, and monthly change in earnings. Bivariate associations between family food insecurity and each type of work condition were examined, and logistic regression models were used to estimate associations adjusting for age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, nativity status, marital status, presence of children in family, educational attainment, family income as a percentage of the federal poverty level, employed full time, occupation, health status, disability status, rural residence, and region. Model-adjusted prevalence of family food insecurity among working adults by type of work conditions is reported.

In 2021, 4.4% of working adults ages 18-64 lived in families experiencing food insecurity. Differences in family food insecurity by work conditions persisted even after adjusting for potential confounders. After adjustment, those working rotating or other types of shifts were more likely to report family food insecurity (5.7%) compared with day shift workers (4.0%). Workers who reported that it was very difficult or somewhat difficult to change their work schedule were more likely to experience family food insecurity (6.3%) than workers who reported it was very easy or somewhat easy to change their work schedule (3.8%). Food insecurity also varied by monthly change in earnings, from 3.9% among workers whose earnings did not change to 5.5% among workers whose earnings changed at least a moderate amount from month to month.