The nexus between health and labour market outcomes has long been a focal point of microeconomic research. Health, as a foundational element of human capital, is widely seen to play a pivotal role in shaping an individual's productivity, earning potential, and overall economic contribution [1,2]. As societies grapple with a myriad of health challenges, from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), understanding the microeconomic – and specifically labour market – implications of these health issues becomes paramount.

Several seminal reviews have delved deep into the labour market consequences of adult health. Behrman and Deolalikar [3] and Strauss and Thomas [4] provided the first comprehensive overviews of the labour market impact of health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of infections and malnutrition had long been conjectured to be an important barrier to economic growth [5], [6], [7], [8]. Subsequently, a flourishing empirical literature has further expanded our knowledge at three different levels. First, the individual, increasingly considered in its full life span; second, the household as a social and economic institution with its internal dynamics of resource allocation; third, local communities – often the target of public health interventions [[9], [10], [11], [12], [13]]. Shifting the focus to high-income countries, Currie and Madrian [14] examined the labour market repercussions of adult health in the US context, while Suhrcke and colleagues covered the European region [[15], [16]]. Other reviews focus on specific populations, such as the elderly [17].

While these studies have significantly advanced our understanding, there remains a pressing need for contemporary perspectives, as the evidence appears to have grown significantly in quantity and quality, and diversified in terms of health domains involved. This review seeks to shed light on the interplay between diverse health issues (including health policies driving health) and labour market outcomes, emphasizing the challenge of assessing causality in the role of health (policy) in labour market outcomes. Causal inference is critical to provide policymakers with more reliable and specific guidance than the one based on associative evidence [14]. It is also important for establishing possible benefits from health and health systems to other important (non-health) public policy domains – which is the focus of this special issue (under the broader theme of the so-called ‘co-benefits’ of health and health systems). This paper specifically complements companion articles reviewing the contribution of health (systems) to economic growth [18] and poverty reduction [19]. By synthesizing past research and integrating new findings from diverse regions and health challenges, we endeavour to offer a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the topic.