Aging workers
As fertility rates fall and life expectancy climbs, the average age of Canada’s population continues to rise. This has widespread implications for social policies and the world of work. IWH research explores these implications, such as the effects of aging on work ability, injury rates, injury and disease prevention, productivity, accommodation and return to work. It also looks at the workplace and social programs that will allow aging workers to remain at work in a healthy and productive way until they transition into retirement.
Featured
At Work article
Understanding employment patterns among older workers in four countries
Study finds relationships among education level, disability, work participation not always as expected
Published: October 1, 2019
At Work article
Despite pain and fatigue, older workers with chronic conditions want to work to age 65
IWH study of retirement expectations finds boomers with health issues have same plans as healthy peers
Published: July 30, 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Access to showers and change rooms at work associated with active commuting among older workers: findings from a national population survey
Published: Journal of Applied Gerontology, February 2020
At Work article
Understanding employment patterns among older workers in four countries
In many developed countries, including Canada, encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce is a common policy goal. But what do we know about current work participation patterns among people older than 65? A new study involving IWH looks at data in Canada, the U.K., Denmark and Sweden.
Published: October 2019
IWH in the media
Chronic diseases not slowing down older workers
Personal health may be a factor for older workers in deciding when to retire, but it’s not as big a factor as previously thought, according to a new Institute for Work & Health study. Despite experiencing more pain and fatigue, older workers with arthritis, diabetes or both were no different from their healthy peers in their retirement plans, writes John Dujay.
Published: Canadian HR Reporter, August 2019
Research Highlights
Comparing the retirement expectations of older workers with and without chronic conditions
Workers with arthritis and diabetes, despite their health difficulties, have similar retirement plans as their healthy peers. Yet workers with chronic conditions are more likely than their healthy peers to report having retired previously and returned to work, often in part-time positions.
Published: August 2019
At Work article
Despite pain and fatigue, older workers with chronic conditions want to work to age 65
Having a health condition or a chronic disease can be challenging for older workers, but it doesn't necessarily decrease their desire to work and retire at about the same age as healthy peers, finds an IWH study of retirement expectations.
Published: July 2019
IWH in the media
Implications of an aging workforce for work injury, recovery, returning to work and remaining at work
As the average age of Canadian workers continues to rise, employers may wonder about the implications on work injury, recovery, return to work and remaining at work. Some may expect that risks of injury are higher among older workers, that their injuries are more severe, or that timelines to recover and return to work are longer. However, findings from recent studies, including several conducted at IWH, paint a more nuanced picture. This article by IWH summarizes the evidence.
Published: OOHNA Journal, April 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Implications of an aging workforce for work injury, recovery, returning to work and remaining at work
Published: OOHNA Journal, April 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Inequalities in employment rates among older men and women in Canada, Denmark, Sweden and the UK
Published: BMC Public Health, March 2019
At Work article
Boomers with and without chronic conditions have similar needs for workplace supports
Yes, older workers with diabetes or arthritis experience fatigue and pain. But they're not that different from healthy peers in how much they need, or use, workplace accommodations, an IWH study has found.
Published: February 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Retirement expectations of older workers with arthritis and diabetes compared with those of workers with no chronic diseases
Published: Canadian Journal on Aging, February 2019