Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
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Is Educational Level Linked to Unable to Work Due to Ill-health?

  • Jung, Jiyoun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Choi, Jaesung (Department of Economics, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Myong, Jun-Pyo (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kim, Hyoung-Ryoul (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kang, Mo-Yeol (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Received : 2019.04.23
  • Accepted : 2019.12.26
  • Published : 2020.06.30
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Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between educational level and unable to work due to ill-health (UWdIH) among 30- to 79-year-old South Koreans. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey of the 2010-2016 Korea National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey was used for analyses. A total of 29,930 participants aged ≥30 and < 80 years, who do not have any disability in their daily life because of health problems, were included. Educational level and reason for nonworking are self-reported with multiple choices. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine an association between education level and UWdIH by setting those who graduated college as their final education (n = 6,997) as a baseline while controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: In the age-stratified result, the ratio of UWdIH was increased as age increases in 3 educational groups (p < .0001). There was a tendency that low-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (0-2)] participants showed higher ratio of UWdIH than high-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (5≤)] participants in both sexes (odds ratio: 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 2.12-3.05). Conclusion: There is a clear link between educational level and UWdIH; the less the educated, the more likely to be UWdIH. Policy priority should be given to plans that can help this vulnerable social group to work and enjoy healthy lives.

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References

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