O9
CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG OLDER WORKERS
- D’Angelo1, G. Ntani1, K. Walker-Bone2
1MRC-LEC, University of Southampton, UK
2School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread employment disruption but studies on older workers are scarce. Undesired work changes at older ages may compromise long-term employment and health trajectories.
Aims
To explore the impact of employment changes during the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported health of older workers.
Methods
Data were drawn from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study, a cohort of middle-aged individuals in England incepted in 2013-14. In February 2021 they reported on employment changes since March 2020 and perceived changes in mental and general health. Associations were analysed with Poisson regression, with robust standard errors, adjusting for age, sex, pre-pandemic self-rated health (SRH), pre-pandemic comorbidities, pre-pandemic financial position, and job type.
Results
Among 1104 participants (48% men, mean age 63 years), only 33% retained the same employment, while 34% transitioned to home working, and 5% retired. Compared with participants with unchanged employment, those who started home working (RR 1.59, 95%CI 1.09, 2.32) and those who retired (RR 2.07, 95%CI 1.14, 3.78) were more likely to perceive a SRH worsening. Recent retirees were more likely to perceive a mental health worsening (RR 1.71, 95%CI 0.99, 2.97).
Conclusions
Certain employment changes were associated with worsening of general and mental health. Some of the negative consequences of working from home during the peak of the pandemic may be explained by the shift to home working being sudden and forced. Health of the population should be monitored in the long term and support provided if needed.
