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Living longer, working longer: analysing time trends in working life expectancy in Germany from a health perspective between 2002 and 2018

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Heller

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Stefanie Sperlich

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Fabian Tetzlaff

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Siegfried Geyer

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Jelena Epping

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Johannes Beller

    (Hannover Medical School)

  • Juliane Tetzlaff

    (Hannover Medical School)

Abstract

Population ageing poses growing challenges to social security systems, in particular to public pension funds. The study analyses how Working Life Expectancy (WLE) and Healthy Working Life Expectancy (HWLE) in terms of three health indicators developed in Germany. Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) from 2002 to 2018 (n = 211,141), time trends in labour force rates, mental and physical Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), self-rated health (SRH) and the respective combinations (health indicator*labour force) were analysed for all respondents aged 18–74. WLE and HWLE were calculated using the Sullivan method. WLE and HWLE in men and women at age 18 and 50 clearly increased over time. These increases in HWLE were found in terms of all three health indicators. This development was mainly driven by the clear increase of the labour force rates, since the shares of individuals with good and satisfactory SRH or average and good HRQoL remained largely stable over time. The results show that from a health perspective there have been potentials for increases in WLE during the past two decades and that increasingly more healthy life years are spent economically active. However, life years in the labour force but in poor health have increased, too. The absence of clear improvements in health emphasises the importance of current and future preventive measures to maintain health, especially among the middle-aged and older labour force.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Heller & Stefanie Sperlich & Fabian Tetzlaff & Siegfried Geyer & Jelena Epping & Johannes Beller & Juliane Tetzlaff, 2022. "Living longer, working longer: analysing time trends in working life expectancy in Germany from a health perspective between 2002 and 2018," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1263-1276, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10433-022-00707-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00707-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agnès Lièvre & Florence Jusot & Thomas Barnay & Nicolas Brouard & Jm Robine & M-A Brieu & Françoise Forette, 2007. "Healthy Working Life Expectancies at age 50 in Europe: a new indicator," Post-Print halshs-01302304, HAL.
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    5. Juliane Tetzlaff & Denise Muschik & Jelena Epping & Sveja Eberhard & Siegfried Geyer, 2017. "Expansion or compression of multimorbidity? 10-year development of life years spent in multimorbidity based on health insurance claims data of Lower Saxony, Germany," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 679-686, July.
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    8. Tisch, Anita, 2015. "Health, work ability and work motivation : determinants of labour market exit among German employees born in 1959 and 1965," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 48(3), pages 233-245.
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    11. Anita Tisch, 2015. "Health, work ability and work motivation: determinants of labour market exit among German employees born in 1959 and 1965 [Gesundheit, Arbeitsfähigkeit und Arbeitsmotivation: Beweggründe für den Er," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 48(3), pages 233-245, October.
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