Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review

Abstract Background An ageing population and increasing life expectancy has intensified pressure to prolong working lives among high-income countries. Emerging research has sought to characterise dynamic working life patterns (how labour market participation changes over the working career), and how...

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Main Authors: Rachel Louise Hasting, Karen Marieke Oude Hengel, Taina Leinonen, Ute Bültmann, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Alex Burdorf, Michelle C Turner, Laura Salonen, Damien M McElvenny, Svetlana Solovieva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23487-5
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author Rachel Louise Hasting
Karen Marieke Oude Hengel
Taina Leinonen
Ute Bültmann
Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
Alex Burdorf
Michelle C Turner
Laura Salonen
Damien M McElvenny
Svetlana Solovieva
author_facet Rachel Louise Hasting
Karen Marieke Oude Hengel
Taina Leinonen
Ute Bültmann
Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
Alex Burdorf
Michelle C Turner
Laura Salonen
Damien M McElvenny
Svetlana Solovieva
author_sort Rachel Louise Hasting
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background An ageing population and increasing life expectancy has intensified pressure to prolong working lives among high-income countries. Emerging research has sought to characterise dynamic working life patterns (how labour market participation changes over the working career), and how various factors, including occupational exposures, influence these patterns. This scoping review aims to systematically map the literature in this area and to identify future research needs. Methods A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. Original studies were included if they included individuals from the general working-age population (defined as 18–70 years of age) or from patient-, sector-, industry-, or occupation-specific populations, and if they examined associations between at least one occupational exposure and a measure of dynamic working life patterns, grouped into either labour market participation trajectories or cumulative time spent in various labour market states. Studies were considered too heterogeneous to allow for quantitative synthesizing of results or calculation of an average measure of working life patterns across studies by exposure. Results The seventeen included original studies were heterogenous with regards to study populations, analysis methods, occupational exposures, and outcomes. Studies of biomechanical and psychosocial exposures were the most common, with indications that biomechanical factors are associated with reduced work participation. Conclusions Future studies would benefit from clearer definitions of occupational exposures and measures of dynamic working life patterns, a broader inclusion of occupational exposures, and measures of cumulative exposure.
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spelling doaj-art-523545c99a6f4c47802ca2be59f36d5d2025-08-20T03:45:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111410.1186/s12889-025-23487-5Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping reviewRachel Louise Hasting0Karen Marieke Oude Hengel1Taina Leinonen2Ute Bültmann3Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum4Alex Burdorf5Michelle C Turner6Laura Salonen7Damien M McElvenny8Svetlana Solovieva9National Institute of Occupational Health, Pb 5330 MajorstuenDepartment of Work, Health and Technology, TNOFinnish Institute of Occupational HealthDepartment of Community and Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenNational Institute of Occupational Health, Pb 5330 MajorstuenDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MCBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Finnish Institute of Occupational HealthInstitute of Occupational MedicineFinnish Institute of Occupational HealthAbstract Background An ageing population and increasing life expectancy has intensified pressure to prolong working lives among high-income countries. Emerging research has sought to characterise dynamic working life patterns (how labour market participation changes over the working career), and how various factors, including occupational exposures, influence these patterns. This scoping review aims to systematically map the literature in this area and to identify future research needs. Methods A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. Original studies were included if they included individuals from the general working-age population (defined as 18–70 years of age) or from patient-, sector-, industry-, or occupation-specific populations, and if they examined associations between at least one occupational exposure and a measure of dynamic working life patterns, grouped into either labour market participation trajectories or cumulative time spent in various labour market states. Studies were considered too heterogeneous to allow for quantitative synthesizing of results or calculation of an average measure of working life patterns across studies by exposure. Results The seventeen included original studies were heterogenous with regards to study populations, analysis methods, occupational exposures, and outcomes. Studies of biomechanical and psychosocial exposures were the most common, with indications that biomechanical factors are associated with reduced work participation. Conclusions Future studies would benefit from clearer definitions of occupational exposures and measures of dynamic working life patterns, a broader inclusion of occupational exposures, and measures of cumulative exposure.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23487-5Working life expectancyWorking life patternsWork disabilitySickness absenceWork participationOccupational exposure
spellingShingle Rachel Louise Hasting
Karen Marieke Oude Hengel
Taina Leinonen
Ute Bültmann
Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
Alex Burdorf
Michelle C Turner
Laura Salonen
Damien M McElvenny
Svetlana Solovieva
Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
BMC Public Health
Working life expectancy
Working life patterns
Work disability
Sickness absence
Work participation
Occupational exposure
title Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
title_full Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
title_fullStr Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
title_short Mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures: a scoping review
title_sort mapping dynamic working life patterns and the impact of occupational exposures a scoping review
topic Working life expectancy
Working life patterns
Work disability
Sickness absence
Work participation
Occupational exposure
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23487-5
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