Abstract
In the traumatic brain injury (TBI) vocational literature there have been limited, but conflicting findings relative to job complexity and work reentry. This study follows 140 workers at the time of injury and examines return to work and maintenance within the context of job complexity at three to five years postinjury. Job complexity was examined as a function of US Department of Labor ratings of the Reasoning Development and Specific Vocational Preparation ratings required for each job held and hours worked. Subgroup comparisons were made across three subgroups: 1) job-maintainers, 2) those unable to sustain work after returning, and 3) those who could never return to work. The subgroup that was chiefly able to maintain complex work, according to U.S. Department of Labor ratings, was more likely to be of female gender, had fewer alcohol problems, was less severely injured and showed significantly better neuropsychological functioning. Those unable to sustain work had between 1.7 and 2.6 chance of holding a job with less complexity and hours at time of termination. There were no differences between these first two groups on involvement in the broader US Department of Labor occupational classification categories. The final subgroup, that was never able to work, showed both more severe injury and more neuropsychological impairment.