Strong Labour Market Inequality of Opportunities at the Workplace for Supporting a Long and Healthy Work-Life: The SeniorWorkingLife Study

Abstract

Most European countries are gradually increasing the state pension age, but this may run counter to the capabilities and wishes of older workers. The objective of this study is to identify opportunities in the workplace for supporting a prolonged working life in different groups in the labour market. A representative sample of 11,200 employed workers ≥ 50 years responded to 15 questions in random order about opportunities at their workplace for supporting a prolonged working life. Respondents were stratified based on the Danish version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). Using frequency and logistic regression procedures combined with model-assisted weights based on national registers, results showed that the most common opportunities at the workplace were possibilities for more vacation, reduction of working hours, flexible working hours, access to treatment, further education and physical exercise. However, ISCO groups 5–9 (mainly physical work and shorter education) had in general poorer access to these opportunities than ISCO groups 1–4 (mainly seated work and longer education). Women had poorer access than men, and workers with reduced work ability had poorer access than those with full work ability. Thus, in contrast with actual needs, opportunities at the workplace were lower in occupations characterized by physical work and shorter education, among women and among workers with reduced work ability. This inequality poses a threat to prolonging working life in vulnerable groups in the labour market.

Work-limiting musculoskeletal pain and its association with loss of paid employment among senior workers: prospective cohort study with register follow-up

“…Unfortunately, a strong inequality exists in opportunities offered by many workplaces for supporting a long and healthy work life, where (senior) workers with physically demanding work—those needing it the most—are generally offered fewer opportunities compared to sedentary workers. 22 This poses a threat to prolonging working lives among senior workers with physically demanding work.…”

“…SWL has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID number: NCT03634410), and the methodology has been described thoroughly previously. 1 , 22 , 23 In brief, SWL is a questionnaire-based cohort study about work environment and health among Danish senior workers. A probability sample of 30 000 Danes at and above 50 years was drawn by Statistics Denmark (the central authority on Danish statistics) and received the baseline questionnaire electronically between July and October 2018.…”

Is hard physical work in the early working life associated with back pain later in life? A cross-sectional study among 5700 older workers

“…25 The response rate of the employed workers replying to the entire questionnaire was 56%. 26 This study only included currently employed wage earners with sedentary work who replied to the questions about physical demands (current and at their first work) and current pain intensity in the low back (N=5909). The questions are specified below.…”

Analysis of Current Research in the Field of Sustainable Employment Based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation

“…In terms of workforce health management, Skovlund et al [44] showed that among older workers with high physical demands, work-limiting musculoskeletal pain significantly increased the risk of losing paid work before reaching the national retirement age, emphasizing the importance of addressing work-limiting pain through policies and workplace preventive measures. In terms of workplace opportunity inequalities, Andersen et al [45] analyzed workplace opportunity inequalities among Danish workers aged 50 and over in supporting the extension of working life, revealing significant inequalities in opportunities for physical labor-intensive jobs, women, and those with reduced work capacity to access options like reduced working hours, flexible work arrangements, and health promotion.…”