Given the evidence of social inequalities in health, as demonstrated by the existence of gradients based on current social status, income, or educational attainment, the objective here is to examine the explanatory role that “work”—in the broadest sense—can play, focusing on two components: occupational exposures and employment status (including unemployment or lack of employment). Without claiming to be exhaustive, the approach consists of presenting a few examples illustrating how occupational exposures and working conditions (or conditions of non-employment) can have consequences in terms of social health inequalities. Regarding the role of occupational exposures, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a health dimension where exposures—primarily biomechanical—account for a significant portion of the observed social inequalities. Working under unfavorable conditions in terms of employment status (job insecurity, precarious contracts) is also detrimental to health and contributes to the existence of inequalities. Several examples document the delayed effects of occupational exposures, extending beyond working age, whether regarding overall mortality, cancer, or musculoskeletal health. Beyond interventions targeting a specific condition or occupational factor, a more comprehensive approach is needed to examine the links between training, occupational exposures, and career management, as well as the positive role that occupational physicians can play in reducing social health inequalities. (R.A.)