title: Muscular fitness and re-employment among unemployed job seekers in Finland: a three-year follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research suggests that health is an important determinant of re-employment. However, the association between specific physical health components, such as muscular fitness, and re-employment has not been well studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In a three-year follow-up of unemployed people, we investigated whether muscular fitness is associated with re-employment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2002-2005, unemployed people (n=130) who were participants in active labour market policy measures were recruited to participate in a Career Health Care (CHC) project. Data on background characteristics and muscular fitness were collected in 2002/2003 using a questionnaire and laboratory measurements. Clientship in the CHC lasted for three years, and at its end, participants' employment status was assessed by a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between baseline muscular fitness (repetitive lift, sit-ups, and squats) and re-employment after three years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The probability of re-employment within three years significantly increased with improved performances on muscular fitness tests (lifting, sit-up, and squatting) after adjustment for age and gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unemployed people with good muscular fitness had increased probability for re-employment as compared to those with poor muscular fitness.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Chioma A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nwaru
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Clas-Håkan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nygård
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Virtanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Career Health Care; Health; selection; unemployment