Objective - to analyze the relationship of subjective health indicators to professional employment. Subject and methods. A cross-sectional epidemiological survey (within the framework of the ESSE-RF study) covered a random sample of 25-64-year-old male and female people in the Kemerovo Region. Two comparison groups were formed from 1627 survey participants: 1) employees (n=1214) and 2) unemployees (n=413). They were interviewed to have data on professional employment, health self-appraisal, medical visit rates, and quality of life (EQ-5D questionnaire and EQ-VAS). Results. As compared with the employees, the unemployees rate their health less frequently as excellent (the men in particular), more frequently as satisfactory, as well as worst in their age group. The proportion of those who seek emergency medical advice is higher among the unemployees. The number of those admitted to hospital during a year was larger among the unemployed women; female employment is statistically associated with a 0.9 reduction in the number of visits to physician offices during a year. According professional employment, only the men show differences in quality of life, virtually in all indicators. In the employed men, the total EQ-5D values decrease (i.e. the quality of life is higher) by an average of 0.583 scores, and the EQ-VAS values increase by an average of 4.878 scores, suggesting that their health self-appraisal is higher. Conclusion. Thus, this survey has indicated that the employed and unemployed men and women have differences in health self-appraisals. At the same time professional employment affects quality of life in men.