Educational qualification differences and early labor market exit among men: the contribution of labor market marginalization measured across the working life

Abstract

Background The present study aims to investigate the association between educational qualification and early labor market exit among men and to examine the contribution of labor market marginalization measured across the working life on this association. Method A register-linked cohort study was conducted including men who completed military service in 1969/70 (born between 1949 and 1951) and were alive at age 55 and not disability pension beneficiaries (n = 40 761). Information on the highest level of educational qualification and the outcome of early exit (disability pension, sickness absence, unemployment, and early old-age pension) was obtained from Swedish nationwide registers between the ages of 55 and 64 years. Labor market marginalization was defined as periods of long-term unemployment and sickness absence over the working life and up to follow-up. Cox regression analyses were used to obtain hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Low-educated men were more likely to leave the labor force early due to disability pension or sickness absence (HR: 2.48), unemployment (HR: 2.09), and early old-age pension with- (HR:1.25) and without -income (HR: 1.58). Labor market marginalization across the working life explained a large part of the association for the more involuntary early exit routes (disability pensions, sickness absence, unemployment) and explained very little with regards to the more voluntary early exit routes (early old-age pension with and without income). Conclusion Exposure to labor market marginalization across the working life was important in explaining educational differences in early labor market exit due to disability pension or sickness absence and unemployment. This study underscores the importance of identifying and implementing preventive measures in the workplace (e.g. adaptions) to prevent new spells of sickness absence and unemployment, especially among low educated individuals.

When we were young: how labour market attachment during mid-life affects labour market exit

“…This is in line with previous studies that have shown that individuals with higher education exit labour market later (McAllister et al ., 2020). Higher education is often associated with late exit due to its link with less physically demanding jobs and reduced risk of disability and sickness (Thern et al ., 2022), higher employability and reduced risk of unemployment (Nivorozhkin, 2008). Therefore, policies aiming at extending working life should focus on raising educational attainment and implementing lifelong learning programmes.…”

“…Employment breaks and part-time work can lead to late exit due to insufficient pension accumulation (König, 2017; Dingemans and Möhring, 2019). On the other hand, individuals with low attachment and employment break histories are more likely to exit early through unemployment, disability and sickness (Thern et al ., 2022; Visser et al ., 2016; Bennett and Moehring, 2015). Moreover, no answers have been provided regarding at what stage in life [potential] obstacles make the biggest difference (European Commission, 2021).…”

“…The literature shows that labour market attachment throughout the life course affects the late working life outcomes of individuals such as lower earnings of older workers with career breaks and job losses (K€ onig et al, 2019;Heisig and Radl, 2017). When it comes to the link between labour market attachment history and the timing of the exit, the direction of the association is rather mixed as exit is not only through pension receipt but also through various alternative pathways such as unemployment, disability or illness (Thern et al, 2022;. Employment breaks and part-time work can lead to late exit due to insufficient pension accumulation (K€ onig, 2017;Dingemans and M€ ohring, 2019).…”

Duration and intensity of occupational lifting and risk of long-term sickness absence: Prospective cohort study with register follow-up among 45 000 workers

“…We adjusted the analyses for the following potential confounders: age (continuous variable), sex (categorical variable: man, woman), year of survey reply (categorical variable: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), education (categorical variable: unskilled and skilled workers, further education), use of assistive devices (categorical variable: “always”, “often”, “sometimes”, “seldom”, “never”), leisure-time physical activity (continuous variable: total weekly hours of leisure-time physical activity), body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 , continuous variable), smoking status (categorical variable: daily, sometimes, ex-smoker, never), psychosocial work factors (continuous variable), and depressive symptoms (continuous variable) ( 12 , 15 , 19 , 20 ). Psychosocial work factors were based on the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), which include six items about job strain and two items about influence at work, each converted to a 0–100 scale (0 = worst, 100 = best) ( 21 ).…”

Investigating the Link between Education and Labor Market Dynamics: The Case of Bangladesh

“…In a recent study, Thern et al (2022) looked at the effect of educational inequalities on labor market outcomes, particularly how educational differences are related to early labor market exit. Loweducated men had a higher likelihood of quitting the workforce early, they discovered.…”