Consistently getting less than seven hours of sleep a day is associated with increased injury rates at work. The prevalence of short sleep duration varies by both normal work shift as well as employee occupation.
Research using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey finds that about 37% of workers regularly get less than seven hours a sleep on a work day. However, among workers who work the night shift, more than 61% fall into this low sleep duration group compared to only about 36% of workers who regularly work a daytime shift (Yong et al., 2017).
- Chart
- Data Table
Research using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a survey that includes 29 states, finds that low sleep duration varies substantially by worker occupation. The occupations associated with the highest prevalence of low sleep duration include production, healthcare support, and healthcare practitioners and technical employees. Forty percent or more of workers in each of these occupational groups regularly receive less than seven hours a sleep a night. Occupations associated with the lowest prevalence of low sleep duration include farming, fishing, and forestry; education, training, and library; as well as community and social services. Fewer than 33% of workers in these occupations suffer from low sleep duration (Shockery & Wheaton, 2017).
- Chart
- Data Table
Sources:
- Shockery, T.M. & Wheaton, A.G. (March 3, 2017). Short sleep duration by occupation group – 29 states, 2013-2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. US Department of Health and Human Services, 66(8).
- Yong, L.C., Lie, J., Calvert, G.M. (2017). Sleep-related problems in the US working population: prevalence and association with shiftwork status. Occupational Environmental Medicine; 74:93-104.