Longer careers may leave younger, disadvantaged workers spending more years in poor health

The German population is growing older, creating difficulties for pension systems. The government aims to adjust the retirement age as life expectancy rises, but this requires workers to remain healthy in old age. However, German research has found that health tends to worsen for younger workers. A study by the Medical Sociology Unit at Hannover Medical School analyzed health trends during working years (ages 18-44).

Surprisingly, health deteriorates over time, leading to more years of poor health, particularly among young adults. This increases the risk of entering old age with poorer health than previous generations. The research used data from surveys and health records of over 3 million Germans, revealing that serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease are decreasing, but musculoskeletal disorders are becoming more common and chronic.

Social status plays a significant role, with better-educated individuals experiencing more healthy years compared to those with lower education levels. Occupational stress in physically or mentally demanding jobs also shortens healthy years. The study concludes that health trends are falling behind the extended working life, especially among younger workers.

This could lead to a decline in the working-age population due to deteriorating health, posing challenges for healthcare and labor market policies. The researchers recommend starting health prevention programs earlier to avoid older workers entering their final years burdened by health issues.