Assessing the Global Impact of Education and Employment on Life Expectancy: A Gender Based Analysis

This study investigates the differential impact of education and employment on life expectancy across genders using a global dataset, comprising 177 countries. Grounded in the Social Determinants of Health framework and Gender Intersectionality theory, we employ a multivariable regression model to analyze data from the Human Development Index and the World Bank (2022), using life expectancy at birth as the dependent variable and mean years of schooling (a proxy for education) and the unemployment rate (a proxy for employment) as independent variables. Our findings reveal that education significantly influences life expectancy for both men and women, with a stronger effect observed in men. Conversely, the impact of unemployment is statistically significant only for men. Although women exhibit higher overall life expectancy than men, their health quality remains compromised due to systemic marginalization. Interaction effects suggest that men derive greater longevity benefits from both employment and schooling, highlighting gendered disparities in the socioeconomic returns to health. These results underscore the importance of gender-sensitive health, employment and education policies that address unequal access and outcomes. By integrating a gender perspective into cross-country health outcome evaluations, this study contributes to the global health economics literature and provides actionable insights for international development and public health policy aimed at reducing gender-based health inequalities.