Employment trajectories and alcohol consumption in India: longitudinal evidence from the India Human Development Survey

Introduction Alcohol consumption can influence labour market participation through effects on health, productivity and social functioning. However, the relationship between alcohol consumption and employment trajectories has received limited attention in Indian settings. This study investigates the association between alcohol consumption and employment trajectories using longitudinal data from India Human Development Survey (IHDS).Method We analysed longitudinal data from two rounds of IHDS. The analytical sample of 88,661 individuals aged 18–64 years. Alcohol consumption was measured using self-reported drinking status. Employment status was classified as working versus not working and trajectories were constructed across waves (11, 10, 01, 00). The analysis employed group-based trajectory modeling as a classification approach to examine employment trajectories across various sub-sectors of work participation. Robustness checks and sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess the consistency of findings.Results Alcohol consumption increased by 2.45 percentage points between survey waves, rising from 7.38% to 9.83%. The likelihood of alcohol consumption varied significantly across different employment trajectories. Individuals in upward trajectories showed a 12.8% likelihood of drinking, whereas those in downward trajectories had a higher probability of 16.6%.Conclusions Alcohol consumption was associated with distinct employment trajectory among working age adults in India, with notable differences observed in downward employment trajectories. The results suggest that labour market instability may be an important correlate of alcohol consumption. Future research should explore the underlying factors driving these associations and assess whether workplace-based interventions could help mitigate alcohol-related harms among vulnerable employment groups.