OBJECTIVES: To determine impact of disease on career choices, absenteeism, and work loss among individuals with psoriasis (PsO). METHODS: A nationally representative survey was conducted in Q2 2009 of PsO sufferers. Participants were ≥18 years of age and reported their disease status as mild, moderate, and severe. Career choices and work productivity were assessed. Productivity was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) scale, which includes absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss, and activity impairment. RESULTS: A total of 1003 patients responded to the survey (mean age was 50 years, 88% were white, and 58% were female). A higher percentage of patients with severe disease (22%) were disabled as compared with the moderate (15%) and mild (12%) groups. A significantly higher proportion of individuals with severe disease (37%) and moderate (14%) reported that PsO has affected their career choice compared to those with mild disease (4%). Similarly, a significantly higher percentage of individuals with severe (31%) and moderate (10%) disease reported that PsO affects their current career choice as compared to mild disease (3%). Among the employed, on average, PsO sufferers reported a 4% absenteeism rate, 14% presenteeism rate, and 14% productivity loss. Activity impairment, regardless of employment status, was significantly higher for the severe patients (54%; p<0.05) as compared with moderate (24%) or mild (7%) sufferers. The severe disease group also reported significantly higher rates of absenteeism (21%), presenteeism (47%), and work productivity loss (47%) than their moderate or mild counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: PsO is a debilitating disease which impacts multiple aspects of an individual’s lifestyle including career choices and physical functioning. Among the actively employed, moderate-to- severe PsO has a greater impact on their previous and current career choices as compared with patients with mild psoriasis. In addition, patients with severe PsO are associated with greater work loss and activity impairment.