Later-Life Employment Transitions and Frailty: A Gendered Analysis Using Asymmetric Fixed-Effects Models

Later-life employment transitions have complex health implications, yet few studies examine the asymmetric effects of workforce entry and exit on frailty. Using seven waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), this study analyzed 6,165 adults aged 65 and older to assess how employment transitions affect frailty and whether these effects differ by gender. Frailty was measured using a 41-item index, and asymmetric fixed effects models were applied to distinguish the health impacts of entering versus exiting the workforce. Gender-stratified models showed a positive association between employment and frailty only among women. Notably, asymmetric models revealed that exiting the workforce was associated with reduced frailty for women, while entering the workforce was not significantly linked to increased frailty. Gender interaction models confirmed these findings. The results underscore the importance of considering gender and asymmetry in employment transitions and suggest policies supporting better working conditions for older women.