Productivity losses due to illness, disability and premature death in different occupational groups in Finland

In this study losses due to illness, disability and premature death for the economically active population in Finland in 1975 were examined. Total losses of the employed population due to premature death, disability and illness were 503,000 workyears. In monetary terms the losses were 7.91 billion Finnish marks. Age standardized losses per 1000 economically active males were 266 years and per 1000 economically active females 233 years. Losses for males in agriculture and in industry were almost three times higher than in administration. Among females the losses in agriculture were 3.3 times greater and in industry and in services 2.5 times greater than in administration. The main reason for the differences between the total losses was the uneven distribution of invalidity pensions. Losses associated with occupation were calculated assuming that the morbidity, disability and mortality rates in all occupational groups were the same as in healthiest group (administration). If the extra mortality, disability and illnesses of occupational groups were eliminated, the savings would be 255,000 workyears or about 3.9 billion Finnish marks per year e.g. the total losses would decrease to below half of the present level.