Importance of the Working Environment for Early Retirement: Prospective Cohort Study with Register Follow-Up.

Reiner Rugulies,Sannie V. Thorsen,Mona Larsen,Emil Sundstrup,Kristina Thomassen,Lars L. Andersen

doi:10.3390/ijerph18189817

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the role of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for early retirement among older workers. Methods: Data from three Danish surveys on work environment and health among employed older workers (age 55–59) were merged with a national register containing information on labour market participation. Robust Poisson regression modelled the risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and early retirement, that is, not working after the age of 64. Results: Of the 2800 workers, 53% retired early. High physical work demands (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.19–1.48), poor overall psychosocial working conditions (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.26–1.61), and access to early retirement benefits (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.53–2.10) predicted early retirement. Subgroup analyses revealed that poor overall psychosocial working conditions were a stronger predictor for early retirement among workers with seated jobs than those with physically active jobs. Conclusions: High physical work demands and poor psychosocial working conditions are factors that can push older workers out of the labour market prematurely. Poor psychosocial working conditions seem to be a particularly strong push factor among workers with seated work.

Highlights

Demographic changes, which are the net outcome of a fairly low level of fertility and an increase in longevity, have led to increasing calls for longer working lives
In Denmark, a general principle has been established that the state pension age increases with increases in life expectancy, based on the assumption that Danes should have an average of 14.5 living years after retirement [2]
When combining the seven psychosocial work factors, poor overall psychosocial working conditions were associated with early retirement (RR 1.43, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.26–1.61)

Summary

Introduction

Demographic changes, which are the net outcome of a fairly low level of fertility and an increase in longevity, have led to increasing calls for longer working lives. The official state pension age is increasing in many countries worldwide and economic incentives for early voluntary retirement have been reduced. A proportion of older workers may lack the resources to sustain an extended working life with prolonged physical and psychosocial exposures, and there are still many people in Denmark who—voluntarily or involuntarily—leave the labour market before the official state pension age. This study investigates the role of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for early retirement among older workers. Subgroup analyses revealed that poor overall psychosocial working conditions were a stronger predictor for early retirement among workers with seated jobs than those with physically active jobs. Conclusions: High physical work demands and poor psychosocial working conditions are factors that can push older workers out of the labour market prematurely. Poor psychosocial working conditions seem to be a strong push factor among workers with seated work

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