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Disability and Occupational Labor Transitions: Evidence from South Korea

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  • Rhee, Serena

Abstract

We examine how certain occupational physical requirements affect labor transitions of disabled workers by exploiting a unique feature of South Korean Disability Insurance (DI), where award rules are based solely on an applicant’s medical condition, independent of his previous occupations. We estimate the labor market response to a health shock by constructing a physical intensity measure from O*NET and applying it to longitudinal South Korean household panel data. Our results suggest that health shocks initially lead to a 14 to 20 percent drop in employment and that this effect is greater for workers who previously held physically demanding occupations. Those who remain part of the labor market exhibit higher occupational mobility toward less physically demanding jobs. These findings imply that the magnitudes of income risks associated with health shocks vary depending on occupational and skill characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Rhee, Serena, 2020. "Disability and Occupational Labor Transitions: Evidence from South Korea," KDI Journal of Economic Policy, Korea Development Institute (KDI), vol. 42(3), pages 53-85.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:kdijep:225230
    DOI: 10.23895/kdijep.2020.42.3.53
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Disability; Labor Supply; Occupation; O*NET;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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