Once were farmers: Occupation, social mobility, and mortality during industrialization in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec 1840-1971

We study men's adult mortality and longevity by socio-occupational status during industrialization in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Data were extracted from the BALSAC database (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi), which comprehensively traces the demographic history of the region since the beginning of the French Canadian settlement in 1840 up to the early 1970s. Using five occupational classes and controlling for year, age at marriage, urban/rural residence, and literacy, we found no evidence for the emergence of a socioeconomic gradient in mortality. At least until the early 1970s, mortality in the region is the lowest for farmers and appears to be driven by occupational risk rather than fundamental social causes.

Research highlights► We study men's mortality during industrialization in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Québec. ► Data were taken from the BALSAC database and analyzed with event history modeling. ► We found no evidence for the emergence of a gradient in mortality from 1840 to 1971. ► Farmers had the lowest mortality and the highest longevity throughout the period. ► This study provides no support for the fundamental social cause theory.