Job control and working life expectancy in Sweden

Abstract Background While previous studies have shown associations between low job control and negative labor market outcomes, most of these studies have only looked at the probability of one particular outcome without taking into account overall labor market patterns. This study aims to investigate the impact of low job control on life-course labor market participation expressed by working life expectancy and working years lost among men and women in Sweden. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to do so. Methods Data from the SWIP (Swedish Work, Illness, and labor market Participation) cohort of the registered Swedish population in 2005 born from 1945 to 1975 was utilized (circa three million individuals). The multi-state Estimated Labor Market Affiliation (ELMA) method was used to estimate working life expectancy and working years lost due to unemployment, sickness absence, other time outside of work, disability pension, early old-age pension, and death over a 15-year period (2006-2020). Job control was assessed through a job exposure matrix (JEM). Results Men and women in high-control jobs had a longer working life expectancy at each age. At age 30, the working life expectancy for men in high-control jobs was 26.3 years while for men in low-control jobs this was 2.5 years shorter. For women, working life expectancy at 30 was 25.8 years for high-control jobs but nearly five years shorter for low-control jobs. For both men and women these differences were mostly due to disability pension and unemployment. Those in lower control jobs could expect to lose more working years according to nearly all other states besides active employment. Conclusions Higher job control is linked to longer working life expectancy, while low job control is an important determinant of working years lost in the Swedish workforce. Addressing job control inequalities could extend working lives and reduce inequities in labor market outcomes. Key messages • Low job control shortens working life expectancy by up to 5 years in Sweden, mainly due to disability pension and unemployment. • Improving job control could extend working lives and reduce inequalities in labor market participation.