The influence of poor health on competing exit routes from paid employment among older workers in 11 European countries

Abstract

This study corroborates that poor health is a risk factor for labor force exit. However, previous studies have hardly considered different exit routes as competing events. The choice for the statistical analysis technique influenced the results. The Fine & Gray model allows for better estimation of relative and absolute risks of leaving the labor force in the presence of competing exit routes.

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“…Many studies have employed cross-sectional or panel datasets provided by SHARE to explore the relationship between health and labour market outcomes (e.g. Alavinia and Burdorf, 2008, Kalwij and Vermeulen, 2008, Trevisan and Zantomino, 2016, Reeuwijk et al, 2017. One of them (Alavinia and Burdorf, 2008:42) concludes that "…poor SRH (of Europeans aged 50 to 64) is associated with non-participation in the labour force due to early retirement, [with] being unemployed or being a homemaker".…”

“…In a study of sixteen European countries, Trevisan and Zantomino (2016) report a twofold increase in the odds of leaving the labour market if older workers have experienced acute health shocks. Reeuwijk et al (2017) report that poor SRH among older workers in Europe increases the risk of labour market exit, but the effect varies across welfare state regimes. Kalwij and Vermeulen (2008) also make use of multiple health indicators available within the SHARE database.…”

“…Parameter b i directly affects newborns per person rates each time when the index k t is changed. It can be seen that the parameter b i has negative values for age groups 15-29 and positive for age groups[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. These values show that the number of young people aged 15-29 who are having children is decreasing.…”

“…Reeuwijk et al, 2017) studies show that subjective and objective health indicators are both important determinants of labour market decisions. SRH is considered a subjective health indicator.…”

Physical capability in midlife and risk of disability pension and long-term sickness absence: prospective cohort study with register follow-up

“…Consequently, workers aged 50-60 years of age will on average have lost over a third of their muscle strength. Importantly, also the number of coexisting health problems increases with age (4). Even though physical work demands will likely show a small decrease in many industries due to implementation of new technology (5,6), the age-associated decline in physical capability could lead to a significant proportion of older workers lacking the resources to cope with the physical demands at work (7).…”