Health Conditions Sensitive to Retirement and Job Loss Among Korean Middle-aged and Older Adults

Objectives This study was conducted to examine the association between health condition and leaving the labor market among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea. Methods Data was obtained from individuals aged 45 years and older participating in the 2006 and 2008 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We used various health measures including chronic diseases, comorbidities, traffic accident injuries, disabilit of instrumental activities of daily living, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health. The odds ratios of job loss, and retirement, versus employment were calculated using multinomial logistic regression by each health measure. Results In our cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis, health problems related to physical disabilities had the greatest effect on leaving the worksite. A shift in health condition from good to poor in a short period was a predictor of increased risk of unemployment but a persistent pattern of health problems was not associated with unemployment. Women with health problems showed a high probability of retirement, whereas among men, health problems instantly the possibility of both job loss and retirement. Conclusions Health problems of middle aged and older workers were crucial risk factors for retirement and involuntarily job loss. Especially functional defect and recent health problems strongly and instanty affected employment status.

目的 本研究旨在探讨韩国中老年人健康状况与离开劳动力市场之间的关联。 方法 数据来自参与2006年和2008年韩国老龄化纵向研究的45岁及以上个体。我们使用了多种健康指标，包括慢性病、合并症、交通事故伤害、工具性日常生活活动能力障碍、抑郁症状和自评健康状况。通过多项逻辑回归，针对每种健康指标计算了失业和退休相对于就业的比值比。 结果 在我们的横断面和纵向分析中，与身体残疾相关的健康问题对离开工作岗位的影响最大。短期内健康状况从良好变为不佳是失业风险增加的一个预测因素，但持续的健康问题模式与失业无关。有健康问题的女性退休的可能性较高，而在男性中，健康问题立即增加了失业和退休的可能性。 结论 中老年工人的健康问题是退休和非自愿失业的关键风险因素。特别是功能缺陷和近期的健康问题对就业状况有强烈且即时的影响。