2.L. Scientific session: The role of health in extending working lives: Empirical findings from the Nordic region

Abstract Extending working lives is a timely and policy-relevant topic across Europe due to population aging and increased old age dependency ratio. Several individual, workplace, and societal factors are associated with longer working lives. Health is shown to be a key determinant of work participation with advancing age, and thus, public health is strongly interconnected to the goals of extending working careers. This symposium highlights ongoing research from three Nordic countries in regards to different aspects of public health, namely, health behaviors, health and functional capacity, as well as labor market transitions with advancing age. The presentations also demonstrate different statistical methods to analyze transitions between different states over time (e.g., work, retirement, and disability). The first presentation by Dr. Saana Myllyntausta from University of Turku, Finland, will show how health behavioral factors, especially physical activity and sleep, predict working life expectancy at the age 50 based on Finnish data. Next, the presentation by Dr. Bjørn Heine Strand from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Dr. Ellen Melbye Langballe from Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, will share findings from the HUNT study and the Tromsø study showing how physical, mental, and cognitive health, as well as functional capacity, determine capacity to work between ages 60 and 70. Finally, Dr. Brian Beach from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, will analysis of the Swedish policy context showing the complexity of labor market transitions after age 65, using population-based register data. The three presentations are followed by discussion by Dr. Kristin Farrants from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, who will provide a synthesis of the presentations and highlight avenues for future work. The last part of the workshop will be devoted to interactive discussion among the presenters, discussant and audience. Key messages • Health is a key determinant of work participation with advancing age, which highlights the importance of public health policies in supporting sustainable working life. • Modern statistical methods enable modelling the complexity of labor market transitions and exits among older working adults.