Working Conditions and Mortality Risks Among Those Over the Age of 65: Findings From Germany

Despite the common worldwide trend of increasing life expectancy, socioeconomic differences and inequalities in mortality risks remain. This study focuses on the differences in mortality risks after the age of 65 due to working conditions during one’s working life. The study is based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP), a representative longitudinal survey for Germany. Using occupations as a linkage variable, we match job exposure matrices that contain information about typical occupational working conditions from the German Working Conditions Survey. We estimate event analysis models to determine the effects of typical working conditions in occupations on mortality risks after retirement, while controlling for numerous individual characteristics. Working in occupations with strenuous conditions leads to higher mortality risks in later life. The effect is more pronounced for women than for men. Other factors, notably being male, having poor self-assessed health and the prevalence of an officially acknowledged disability, also increase mortality risks. According to our analysis—and in contrast to other studies—income position does not affect mortality risks after working conditions are introduced to the model. We conclude that reducing job strains may be an effective way of increasing life expectancy in later life. Further research should invest in a deeper understanding of the interplay between income and working conditions, consider the age and duration when strenuous working conditions occur and observe changes in working conditions within occupations.