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

Lars L. Andersen, Per H. Jensen, Annette Meng and Emil Sundstrup
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Lars L. Andersen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Per H. Jensen: Centre for Comparative Welfare Studies, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Annette Meng: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Emil Sundstrup: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-9

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.

Keywords: senior worker; aging; occupational health; public health; workplace; sustainable employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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