Documents older worker 836 results

"The Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe report provides an in-depth analysis of recent labour market and wage developments in the EU, the euro area and Member States, primarily from a macroeconomic perspective. This year's edition examines the recent performance of the EU labour market and the challenges ahead in the context of subdued economic growth and ongoing structural changes. It investigates the underlying drivers and weaknesses of the remarkable labour market resilience since 2019. The report also discusses recent wage developments and the persistent social effects of the high inflation period in 2022-2023 and analyses the room for further sustainable wage increases. Finally, the report looks into how to further promote the labour force participation and employment of older adults."

"Objective
The aim of the study was to investigate the longitudinal association between multi-dimensionally measured precarious employment (PE) trajectories and mental health among older employees in Germany.
Methods
Current data from the German lidA study was used, including panel cases, who participated in all four survey waves (2011, 2014, 2018, 2022). The study comprised 1636 subjects, aged 46 and 52 years at baseline. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to model PE trajectories based on a score combining multiple items from the dimensions employment insecurity and income inadequacy. The association between PE trajectories (2011–2022) and mental health (2022) was tested using weighted logistic regression.
Results
We identified a PE trajectory with upward movement that best described 13.6% of the study sample. Representation in this group was socially unequally distributed with noticeably larger shares of female, lower-educated and lower-skilled workers in PE. Women following this trajectory had increased odds [odds ratio (OR) 1.68–1.82] of reporting poor mental health in 2022 compared to their counterparts in constant non-PE. This was not the case for men (OR 0.37–0.51).
Conclusions
Our findings highlight horizontal and vertical inequalities with respect to exposure to and consequences of PE. Future labor market reforms should improve protection of women, who will likely be disadvantaged by accumulating employment-related mental health risks over the course of their lives."

"Background:
Women increasingly work beyond age 50+ but their occupational health is under-researched.
Aims:
To investigate what jobs older contemporary women do, when they exit their jobs and what factors predict job exit.
Methods:
Data came from the Health and Employment After Fifty cohort, which recruited women aged 50-64 at baseline in 2013-14 and has followed them up annually collecting: demographic, lifestyle and work information. Exits from employment were mapped longitudinally over five follow-ups. Time-to-first event Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for job exit.
Results:
At baseline, 4436 women participated, 64% of whom were working. The proportions of women working at 50-54, 55-60 and over 60 years were 86%, 79% and 38%, respectively. Amongst all women, after adjustment for age, managing comfortably financially and not coping with the mental demands of the job were associated with exit. Risk factors for job exit differed in the age bands: 50-54; 55-59 and >60 years, reflecting socio-economic status, markers of health (musculoskeletal pain and poor self-rated health) and work factors (under-appreciation, job dissatisfaction, temporary/permanent contracts, coping with work's physical demands).
Conclusions:
Factors contributing to exit from work among older women differ by age group, after controlling for perceived financial position, age and mental demands of the job. A number of work characteristics predict job exit and suggest that employers can play an important role in supporting women to continue working until older ages. Identification and treatment of musculoskeletal pain could also enable work amongst older women."

"Objective The aging population of European countries highlights the need for extended working lives. This study aims to investigate facilitators and barriers for working beyond the statutory pension age (SPA).

Methods Using data from waves 1, 2, 4–9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (2004–2022), we followed 9131 workers with a mean age of 56.9 [standard deviation (SD) 3.5] years from 26 European countries until they surpassed the SPA for their respective country, sex and year of participation. Using robust Poisson regression, we modelled the prospective association of work factors, lifestyle, health, and demographics at baseline with working at least one year beyond the SPA.

Results Participants were followed for 9.5 (SD 3.9) years. After surpassing the SPA by at least one year, 18% were still working. Among the work factors, opportunities for skill development [risk ratio (RR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.34] and recognition at work (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.26) facilitated working beyond SPA, while time pressure (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81–0.97) and poor prospects for job advancement (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70–0.83) were barriers. For the other factors, smoking was negatively associated with working beyond the SPA, while living in the northern part of Europe, higher level of education, and being divorced or separated were positively associated with working beyond the SPA.

Conclusion This prospective cohort study across 26 European countries identified four modifiable work factors that influenced working beyond the SPA. Addressing modifiable barriers and facilitators at the workplace and through public health initiatives could help extend working lives in Europe."

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

"Objectives: Many teachers worldwide retire early for health or personal reasons. Predictors could help to identify teachers at risk in order to counteract this development. The study therefore investigates whether the intention to retire can be predicted by work ability, psychosocial work stress and work behaviour. Material and Methods: The data came from a representative cross-sectional study of German secondary school teachers (N = 18 971). The analyses included 1496 full-time teachers aged ≥50 years (58% female). Teachers were assigned to 1 of 2 groups based on their intention to take early or regular retirement. A binomial regression model was used to analyze the predictive power of the intention to retire for the following factors: work ability index (WAI) – factor 1, effort-reward ratio (ER ratio), overcommitment (OC), age and gender. In addition, a qualitative analysis of the teachers' suggestions was carried out regarding which measures would make the regular retirement age attainable. Results: Half (49%) of the teachers intended to retire early, with the proportion of women being around twice as high (67%) as men (33%) (d = 0.37). The analyzed predictors explained a total of 22% of the variance. The WAI factor 1 proved to be the most important predictor (variance explanation: 14%). Effort-reward ratio and OC each contributed around 10% to the variance explanation of the retirement intention. The probability of taking early retirement increased with decreasing work ability, increasing ER ratio and a high tendency to overcommit; age and gender were of secondary importance. Teachers suggested a reduction in compulsory hours (46%), relief from extracurricular tasks (45%) and smaller classes (29%) as decisive measures for achieving regular retirement. Conclusions: Work ability index factor 1, ER ratio and OC could be used as part of occupational health prevention programmes to identify and advise older teachers at risk who need support."

This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

"In a world in which people are living longer in good health, the idea of working longer takes on new meaning. Working longer not only provides opportunities for personal development, meaning and social inclusion, it also contributes to a healthy and financially stable society. This is because those who work longer make an important contribution to a society that needs financial resources to meet future challenges. The case for working longer in good health need not conflict with the fundamental right to retirement and the need to ensure health and well being. On the contrary, the right to retirement and a long, healthy life go hand in hand. Moreover, healthy retired people can make an important contribution to a healthy society, for example by fulfilling social roles as informal carers or volunteers. ..."