Publication date: Sep 01, 2026
Long COVID, marked by ongoing multi-systemic symptoms following COVID-19 infection, can impair ability to maintain employment. However, its relationship to workforce retention and working hours remains unclear. Long COVID was defined as symptoms lasting ≥12 weeks post-infection. We analysed data from a late-2022 follow-up survey involving 45,864 participants of the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) Study in England (median follow-up: 23 months). Hierarchical clustering identified symptom groups. Multivariable regressions examined associations between Long COVID, being in paid work, and changes in working hours. Of 45,864 participants employed at recruitment, 86% (N = 39,341) remained in paid work at follow-up and 11% (N = 4877) changed work hours. Approximately 4% (N = 1967/45,864) had unresolved Long COVID. Compared with participants with no/short (
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Employment | |
| England | |
| Long COVID | |
| REACT study | |
| Symptom clusters |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | Long COVID |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | infection |
| disease | MESH | Symptom clusters |