Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original article

Educational disparities in labor market participation among middle-aged Koreans with chronic diseases: evidence from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment: Seung Yeon Jeon, Dong-Wook Lee, Jaesung Choi, Mo-Yeol Kang; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e19. Published online July 17, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e19

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF Supplementary Material: Background
As South Korea experiences rapid population aging, preventing early retirement has become a critical concern. Ill health contributes to early retirement, and educational level moderates this relationship. Although well-studied in Europe, it remains less explored in Northeast Asia, where labor markets and educational attainment differ significantly. This study investigated the moderating role of education in the relationship between chronic diseases and labor force non-participation in South Korea, considering disease severity, type, and employment status.
Methods
Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment, this study analyzed 5,758 individuals born between 1964 and 1976. Chronic diseases were categorized by severity and type. Labor force participation and retirement from lifetime primary occupation were measured. Education was categorized as low (≤high school) or high (≥college). Logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates, with stratification by education level, employment status, severity, and disease characteristics.
Results
Chronic diseases were significantly associated with labor market non-participation and early retirement, with stronger associations among individuals with lower educational levels. Educational disparities were particularly evident for severe and psychiatric disorders. Among wage workers, those with lower education were more likely to exit the labor market due to chronic diseases, whereas those with higher education generally maintained employment, except in cases of musculoskeletal diseases. Low-educated individuals with chronic diseases were also more likely to retire early from their lifetime primary occupations.
Conclusions
Education moderates the relationship between chronic diseases and labor non-participation, with greater disparities in severe or psychiatric illnesses and among wage workers. Low-educated workers are more vulnerable to early retirement due to ill health, highlighting the need for targeted policy interventions to support this group and prevent early exit from the workforce.; 연구 배경: 한국은 빠른 고령화를 겪고 있으며, 이에 따라 조기 퇴직을 예방하는 것이 중요한 과제로 대두되고 있다. 건강 악화는 조기 퇴직의 주요 원인 중 하나로, 교육 수준은 이 관계에 영향을 미치는 조절 변수로 작용한다. 본 연구는 만성질환과 경제활동 미참여 간의 관계에서 교육 수준이 어떤 역할을 하는지, 질병의 중증도, 유형, 고용 형태를 고려하여 분석하였다.
연구 방법: 고령화고용패널 자료를 활용하여 1964년부터 1976년 사이에 출생한 5,758명을 분석하였다. 만성질환은 중증도와 유형에 따라 분류되었으며, 경제활동 참여 여부 및 주된 생애 일자리에서의 퇴직 여부를 측정하였다. 교육 수준은 고졸 이하(저학력)와 전문대 이상(고학력)으로 구분하였다. 연령, 성별, 결혼 여부, 가계 소득, 건강 관련 생활습관(흡연, 운동, 음주)를 통제하고, 교육 수준과 질병의 중증도 및 유형에 따라 층화된 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 수행하였다.
연구 결과: 만성질환은 경제활동 미참여 및 생애 주된 일자리 퇴직과 유의한 관련성을 보였으며, 특히 교육 수준이 낮은 집단에서 이러한 경향이 더욱 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 교육 수준에 따른 격차는 중증 질환과 정신질환에서 더욱 두드러지게 나타났다. 임금 근로자의 경우, 저학력자는 만성질환이 있을 경우, 노동 시장에서 이탈하는 경향을 보였으나 고학력자는 근골격계 질환을 제외하면 대체로 이탈하지 않았다. 또한 저학력자의 경우, 만성질환이 있을 때 생애 주된 일자리에서 퇴직하는 경향을 더욱 보였다.
결론
교육 수준은 만성질환과 경제활동 미참여 및 생애 주된 일자리에서의 퇴직 간의 관계를 조절하며, 중증 또는 정신질환 및 임금근로자 집단에서 그 격차가 더욱 뚜렷하게 나타난다.

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Original Article

Respiratory Symptoms, Pulmonary Function Tests, and Asbestos Related Chest Radiograph Abnormalities of Former Asbestos Textile Factory Workers: Hyunsook Bae, Dongmug Kang, Youngki Kim, Jongeun Kim, Yunseong Kim, Kun Il Kim, Kunhyung Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(4):331-344. Published online December 31, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.4.331

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, asbestos-related chest radiograph abnormalities and abnormal pulmonary function tests among former asbestos textile factory workers and to reveal the related factors of these abnormal findings.
METHODS
There were 119 persons former asbestos textile industry workers registered in the health management pocketbook. Of 97 retired asbestos workers living in Busan, Yangsan and Gimhae, 63(64.9%) retired asbestos workers were enrolled into this study. The researchers administered questionnaires, and performed chest radiographys, and pulmonary function tests (PFT) on participants. The survey was conducted during July, 2009.
RESULTS
Among former workers the number of lung fibrosis, pleural plaque, pleural calcification, and pleural thickening was 13(20.6%), 6(9.5%), 3(4.8%), and 1(1.6%) in chest radiography, respectively. Asbestos-related disorders and abnormal pulmonary function test groups had higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Participants with crocidolite exposure or long latency period had higher asbestos-related x-ray findings or abnormal PFT findings.
CONCLUSIONS
Former asbestos textile workers had a high rate of asbestos-related disorders. Workers with crocidolite exposure or having had a longer latency period had more asbestos-related disorders. Because gradual increase of asbestos related disorders among high asbestos exposure group is expected, sustained, and intensive management is needed for these former workers.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Asbestos exposure and autoantibody titers
Eunsoo Lee, Youngki Kim, Se Yeong Kim, Dongmug Kang
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Ovarian cancer in a former asbestos textile factory worker: a case report
Sunwook Park, Jaechan Park, Eunsoo Lee, Huisu Eom, Mu Young Shin, Jungwon Kim, Dongmug Kang, Sanggil Lee
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities
Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Yong-Jin Lee, Hyun-Hee Lee, Chang-yeol Lee, Seong-Jae Moon, Min-Sung Kang
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2016;[Epub] CrossRef

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