Majority of Austrians Report Job-Related Smoking Habits in Recent Study

In the cutthroat world of work, cigarette breaks are a common occurrence among various professional groups. A recent survey by Censuswide, sponsored by Northerner, the online retailer, provides an intriguing insight into which industries in Austria have a penchant for smoking.

When it comes to work, whether it's a quick coffee break or a smoke session in the backyard, many employees find these brief respites part of their daily routine. Yet, these seemingly insignificant breaks can add up significantly - according to the survey, smoking employees tend to lose nearly two extra weeks of work annually due to unplanned breaks. A fresh study is now shedding light on the smoking habits of Austrian industries and the factors contributing to these patterns.

The neverending tug of the tobacco: stress, pressure, and the urge to unwind

A whopping 70 percent of the surveyed smokers confess that workplace stress fuels their tobacco cravings. The allure of a cigarette is particularly potent in the gastronomy, retail, and healthcare sectors. In an interview with Northerner, Markus Lindblad, their spokesperson, explains the reasons behind this trend: "Besides the typical stressors and time pressure, work environment and social factors play a key role. In teams where smoking is prevalent, it can be tough to resist the temptation. These breaks not only foster a sense of camaraderie but also encourage colleagues to socialize and exchange ideas."

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Gastronomy and retail rule the roost

According to the survey, the gastronomy and retail sectors account for an impressive 17 percent of smoking professionals. Healthcare, finance, and IT follow closely behind at 11 percent, 10 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. In high-pressure roles, smoking often serves as a means of relaxation - "When dealing with high pressure or tight deadlines, many turn to cigarettes to momentarily cope," Lindblad says.

Creative minds: health-conscious, smoke-free, and focused

On the flip side, creative and intellectual fields seem to be free from the nicotine grip, with the art, law, and human resources sectors only counting two to three percent of the responding smokers. Marketing and media also report relatively low smoking rates of five percent. Lindblad observes an increasing focus on mindfulness and a healthy lifestyle in these creative fields - smoking has gradually lost its charm here.

Cigarettes by the truckload: which professions can't resist the allure?

On average, surveyed professionals smoke 11.5 cigarettes per day - with noticeable variations across different industries. Surprisingly, in the human resources department, with only a minuscule three percent of surveyed smokers, the daily smoking average jumps to 13.5 cigarettes. Similarly, in production facilities and gastronomy or retail, the smoking rate hovers around 12.3 per day.

Overall, while specific industry-level smoking statistics for Austria remain elusive, global patterns suggest a higher smoking prevalence in industrial, construction, and manual labor industries. These sectors typically feature stressful work environments, socially acceptable smoking cultures, and lower average educational attainment, which likely contribute to higher smoking rates. To access accurate and up-to-date smoking data broken down by industry in Austria, specialized health or labor surveys conducted by Austrian government agencies or health institutions would be required.

In the gastronomy and retail sectors, where workplace stress and social factors play a significant role, 70% of smokers admit that stress fuels their tobacco cravings.
The healthcare, finance, and IT industries follow closely behind, with 11%, 10%, and 8% of smoking professionals, respectively, often relying on smoking as a means of relaxation in high-pressure roles.
Conversely, creative and intellectual fields, such as art, law, human resources, marketing, and media, report relatively low smoking rates, with a focus on mindfulness and a healthy lifestyle that has gradually made smoking less appealing in these areas.