Health effects on the labor market have most often been assessed using wage as the outcome variable. I estimate health effects on involuntary job loss and attainment of a high status position to see if health has an impact beyond wages. Using SOEP data and controlling for a wide range of human capital and non-labor-market constraints to capture indirect health selection I can show that there are indeed health effects on job loss and high status attainment. These effects differ by gender for high status attainment, but not for job loss. An explanation of increased returns to health in presence of discrimination is offered.
In the end problems regarding measurement of health and bias due to simultaneity are and possible are discussed.