TY - JOUR

T1 - Importance of the Working Environment for Early Retirement

T2 - Prospective Cohort Study with Register Follow-Up

AU - Sundstrup, Emil

AU - Thorsen, Sannie

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

AU - Larsen, Mona

AU - Thomassen, Kristina

AU - Andersen, Lars L.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - health

KW - older worker

KW - physical work demand

KW - physical workload

KW - psychosocial

KW - retirement

KW - statutory retirement age

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18189817

DO - 10.3390/ijerph18189817

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34574740

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

SN - 1661-7827

IS - 18

M1 - 9817

ER -