Socio-economic Differentials in Male Mortality in Ireland

The presence of pronounced inequalities in mortality and life expectancy across income, education and social groups is now well established.  Research across a large number of developed and wealthy countries, including Ireland, has shown that those with fewer resources, less education, or a lower occupational class have higher Standardised Mortality Rates (SMRs) than more advantaged individuals.  This study found that the differential in SMRs between professional and unskilled men, aged 15+, decreased between 1984 and the early 1990s, but then increased significantly thereafter - as the SMR for professional men continued to decrease, whilst that of unskilled men stabilised and then began to increase.  See the online report at: www.esri.ie/publications/latest_working_papers/view/index.xml?id=3845