330188
Factors associated with early exit of workforce among working age adults: A panel study
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Pei-Shu Ho, PhD,
Clinical Research Center, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Jae Chul Lee, PhD,
Center for Disabilities Studies, College of Education and Human Development, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Leighton Chan, MD, MPH,
Clinical Research Center, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Early exit from the labor force due to disability or chronic conditions is a major and costly public health issue. It also has important implications for an individual’s retirement income, the economy, and the social security system. This study examined the association between premature exit from the labor force and disability/chronic conditions among working age adults. We used the 2004-2011 MEPS longitudinal panel and medical condition data files (Panels 9-15), and focused on individuals aged 40 and 60 who participated in all five rounds of the interview (n=28,012). The study population was predominately White (82%), married (65%) and high school graduates (49%). While most of them worked (79%), disability and illness was the main reason for leaving the work force among non-workers. A large proportion of the study population had chronic conditions (55%); at least one in five people also had functional limitations (22%). Using the logistic regression models, we estimated the risk of premature exit from the labor force. The dependent variable was employment status (i.e., retired vs. not retired) whereas independent variables included both time-invariant (gender, race) and time variant variables (age, chronic conditions, and functional limitations). The results suggest that the increased risk of premature exit from the labor force was associated with individuals with poor self-perceived physical health (AOR=1.3, p=0.001)), functional limitations/disabilities (AOR=2.5, p<0.001), chronic conditions (AOR=1.6, p=0.05), and other factors (i.e., older age, higher education, female, and coverage of both public and private insurance).
Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the characteristics of working age adults who are likely to exit labor force prematurely; and
Identify factors associated with premature exit of labor force;
Discuss the implications of identified factors in relation to public health and practices in general.
Keyword(s): Disabilities, Workforce
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted research for more than 15 years (especially focusing on disability, health and outcomes research). I have also led projects and served as the principal investigator for state and federal funded projects. In addition, I am an experienced user of large data sets, including claim-based data and national survey data and have conducted quantitative analyses for many projects.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
