Health-related productivity loss among Korean workers: evidence from a nationally representative sample

Health-related productivity loss (HRPL) is a comprehensive measure of labor productivity lost because of health problems. This study examined the distribution of HRPL and its associations with a broad range of health conditions and occupational characteristics in a nationally representative sample of Korean workers and quantified the population-level productivity burden associated with each condition.

This cross-sectional analysis included 12,554 workers from the 26th wave (2023) of the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study. HRPL was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-General Health version. Differences in HRPL were evaluated across sociodemographic, health-behavioral, and occupational characteristics. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and occupation were used to estimate mean differences in HRPL associated with 34 self-reported health conditions. The condition-specific burden was calculated as condition prevalence multiplied by the adjusted mean difference in HRPL.

The overall mean HRPL was 19.0% and predominantly reflected presenteeism rather than absenteeism. Higher HRPL was observed among older workers and those with lower educational attainment, sleep duration outside the recommended range, lower leisure-time physical activity, higher occupational physical activity, and non-standard employment. The largest adjusted mean differences in HRPL were associated with infertility treatment (52.18 percentage points), anxiety (23.83), depression (20.43), cancer (20.23), and gastroenteritis (18.36). The greatest population-level burdens were associated with low back pain (109.2 burden units), neck or shoulder pain (85.0), upper- or lower-limb joint pain or dysfunction (73.5), and fatigue (61.5).

HRPL is substantial among Korean workers and is associated with occupational characteristics and common health conditions.