Return-to-Work challenges faced by non-regular workers: Insights from a four-year panel study in South Korea

BackgroundNon-regular workers in South Korea account for approximately 37% of the workforce and face elevated risks of occupational injury, yet empirical research on their return-to-work (RTW) outcomes remains limited.ObjectiveThis study aims to (1) compare RTW outcomes between regular and non-regular workers over a four-year observation period, and (2) identify group-specific predictors of RTW using a multidimensional framework encompassing individual, psychological, health-related, social, and workplace factors.MethodsData from 2643 occupationally injured workers were drawn from the Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance, a nationally representative dataset spanning four annual waves (2018 to 2021). Random-effects panel multinomial logistic regression models were estimated separately for each employment type, supplemented by a pooled interaction model to test between-group differences.ResultsNon-regular workers were more likely to remain unemployed or be reemployed at a different workplace, whereas regular workers were more likely to return to their original jobs. Self-efficacy and social interaction were associated with RTW in both groups, though their effects operated through different pathways. Labor union presence was significantly associated with RTW only among regular workers.ConclusionsNon-regular workers experience structurally distinct RTW patterns following occupational injury. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that strengthen psychological and social resources for non-regular workers, alongside institutional reforms to support their sustainable reintegration.