Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Employment Difficulties Among Working-Age Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Spain

As the number of working-age cancer survivors continues to grow, understanding their employment experiences and work-related challenges has become increasingly important. This study explored patient-reported work-related difficulties and factors associated with current employment status among working-age cancer survivors. Data were collected between June 2024 and March 2025 through a self-administered survey of 2,178 cancer survivors aged 18–64 years. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, followed by binary logistic regression modeling. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical factors, and self-reported quality-of-life (QoL) were significantly associated with self-reported work-related difficulties and current employment status. Gender, age, educational attainment, treatment-related variables, and QoL emerged as factors associated with survivors’ work experiences and labor-market participation. These findings highlight the need for patient-centered survivorship care that addresses long-term treatment effects, supports workplace accommodations, and prioritizes vulnerable groups to improve employment participation and QoL —outcomes that are meaningful to cancer survivors.