The Quality of Life, Psychological Health, and Occupational Calling of Korean Workers: Differences by the New Classes of Occupation Emerging Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Young-Jae Kim,Seung-Woo Kang

doi:10.3390/ijerph17165689

Young-Jae Kim, Seung-Woo Kang

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165689

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Abstract

This study aimed to create new classifications for occupations that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea, based on Reich’s classifications for the United States. We examined Korean workers’ occupational calling, psychological health, and quality of life. An online questionnaire was administered and data from 1029 Korean workers were analyzed. The questionnaire comprised the Korean version of the Multidimensional Calling Measure to assess occupational calling, the Psychosocial Well-being Index-short form for psychological health, and the Control, Autonomy, Self-realization, and Pleasure (CASP-19) scale for quality of life. We created a Korean-adapted version of the classes of occupation based on those created by the COVID-19 situation in the USA. Our results showed that Korean workers had a high perceived calling to work, and different classes showed different levels of quality of life and psychological health. We need a health concentration management system for essential groups or personal safety protection equipment should be provided. Education on infection control should be offered and effective medical system processes should be in place. We need to develop technology to respond to medical needs online, remotely, or telephonically. The government should implement policies to ensure job security and to improve wages and welfare.

Highlights

COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, tremendous negative economic and social impacts in multiple countries worldwide [1,2]
Most people are experiencing different work schedules and routines compared to their pre-COVID-19 work chores, and this adaptation has brought about changes in various occupations, as well as new ones [4]; an American professor, Robert Reich, has presented new classes of occupation that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic [4], which are classified by work routines and payment changes
Korean workers’ occupational calling, psychological health, and quality of life (QoL) levels differed by sex: male workers had higher levels overall when compared to female workers, who had lower levels overall

Summary

Introduction

COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, tremendous negative economic and social impacts in multiple countries worldwide [1,2]. Most people are experiencing different work schedules and routines compared to their pre-COVID-19 work chores, and this adaptation has brought about changes in various occupations, as well as new ones [4]; an American professor, Robert Reich, has presented new classes of occupation that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic [4], which are classified by work routines and payment changes. These are the Remotes, the Essentials, the Unpaid, and the Forgotten. After this general introduction to the current Korean and American situation, let us conceptualize Reich’s [4] classifications and provide more information on how we have applied these classifications to the Korean setting.

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