Physically demanding jobs linked to shorter working lives and more sick leave

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/b-pdj051120.php

News Release 12-May-2020
BMJ


Physically demanding jobs are linked to shorter working lives, more sick leave and unemployment than jobs that don't rely on muscle and brawn, suggests a large long term study of Danish workers in hundreds of different types of jobs, and published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

The findings have implications for plans by various European governments to increase statutory retirement age, say the researchers.

Amid longer lifespans and falling birth rates in much of Europe, the expectation is that people will have to work longer before they can retire. In Denmark, the statutory retirement age is set to rise from 65.5 in 2019 to 72 by 2050.

But healthy life expectancy isn't necessarily increasing at the same rate as life expectancy, particularly among the more disadvantaged in society, nor do these reforms take account of the impact of ageing on muscle strength, say the researchers.

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At the age of 30, working life would be expected to last almost 32 years for men with physically demanding jobs and nearly 34 years for men with physically undemanding jobs.

Among women, the equivalent figures were just over 29.5 years and nearly 33 years, respectively.

In all, a 30 year old woman would be expected to have 3 fewer years of working life; 11 more months of sick leave; and 16 more months of unemployment, the analysis showed. The equivalent figures for a man would be 2 years; and 12 and 8 months, respectively.

The researchers point out that there are likely to be other factors in the ability to work, which were not accounted for in this analysis, including lifestyle factors, such as obesity and smoking, as well as long term conditions.

But they nevertheless conclude: "This study showed that high physical work demands are a marked risk factor for a shortened expected working life and increased years of sickness absence and unemployment."

They add: "The findings highlight the urgency of addressing problems related to physical work demands with regard to, for example, an increasing statutory retirement age."