A mortality follow-up of 452, 192 persons aged 25 years or more who were characterized with respect to employment status was conducted using the National Death Index for the years 1979 through 1983. The cohort, part of the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, was drawn from Current Population Survey samples representative of the US population using selected months during the years 1979-1983. Employed persons aged 25-64 years were found to have standardized mortality ratios from 61% to 74% of the average, depending upon their sex and race. Unemployed men had standardized mortality ratios slightly above 100, but these values were 1.6 and 2.2 times higher than those for employed white men and black men, respectively. Those classified as unable to work had very high mortality ratios, from two to seven times the average. In the older age groups, 65 years or more, very low mortality ratios were found for those who were still employed. These relations were maintained after adjustment for family income and educational level. These results 1) describe the magnitude of mortality risk for clearly defined employment categories, 2) identify segments of the population with especially high mortality requiring greater public health recognition, and 3) suggest further research into the health consequences of the various employment/nonemployment conditions.