I don't think delirium was suggesting someone would keel over and die after N weeks without a job. Rather, not having a job makes paying for healthcare, eating

I don't think delirium was suggesting someone would keel over and die after N weeks without a job. Rather, not having a job makes paying for healthcare, eating well, owning or renting a home difficult or impossible (these are difficult for many people with jobs!). All of these are significant factors in increasing both life expectancy and quality of life. While working solely to live longer and live decently doesn't have quite the same ring as working solely to avoid dying, the meaning of his statement seems clear.