Men with relatively high testosterone levels are less likely to be out of work and are more likely to find a new position. Explanations.
- Testosterone is a hormone secreted by the testicles in men and by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women.
- During puberty, testosterone production increases.
Previous research has suggested that testosterone is associated with personality traits and may influence social behaviors, which were likely relevant in the job market. However, while some cohorts have sought to find out whether this sex hormone influences the probability of exercising one’s profession or of being self-employed, they have only taken into account the status on the labor market at a given period.
This is why an international group of researchers decided to carry out work published in the journal Economics & Human Biology. “Our study examines the impact of testosterone on labor market transitions, for example changes in unemployment over time. (…) We examined the effects of testosterone because we are interested in the link between biomarkers and economic outcomes”, said Peter Eibich, author of the research, in a statement.
“Differences in cognitive and non-cognitive skills”
To carry out their work, the scientists studied data from a cohort called the “Understanding Society” carried out between 2011 and 2013. They analyzed the labor market transitions of 2,004 British men, aged 25 to 60, initially employed and 111 other volunteers initially unemployed. “We address the endogeneity of testosterone levels using genetic variants”, can we read in the study.
According to the results, higher testosterone levels decrease the risk of becoming and remaining unemployed, both for men who were initially unemployed and for participants who were initially employed. Clearly, adults with high testosterone levels are more likely to find work and less likely to lose their job. “We argue that these effects are likely due to differences in cognitive and non-cognitive skills as well as job search behavior of men with higher testosterone levels.”explained the authors.
According to the team, these results suggest that latent biological processes may affect job search behavior and labor market transitions without necessarily being linked to disease and disability.