The Impact of the Transition into First Employment on Smoking Behavior Among Young Workers in China

Existing research highlights the importance of young people in smoking prevention efforts, yet the smoking behavior of young workers remains underexplored. This study aims to examine whether the transition into first employment influences cigarette smoking among young Chinese workers and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the transition into first employment significantly increases smoking intensity. Further analysis shows that this transition is associated with reduced life satisfaction, reflecting exposure to occupational stress such as high workload and time pressure, for which smoking may serve as a coping strategy. In addition, the transition into first employment is associated with increased drinking frequency, indicating greater social engagement in workplace settings where smoking and drinking are often embedded in social interactions. These findings suggest that tobacco control policies should target the first employment transition period by enforcing smoke-free regulations in workplaces and by integrating smoking prevention into pre-employment health education. Focusing on young workers during their first entry into the labor market offers a promising strategy to reduce future smoking prevalence in China.