Cosa sappiamo sul legame causale tra lavoro e salute? Evidenze empiriche su donne e uomini in una società che invecchia [What do we know about the causal link between work and health? Empirical evidence on women and men in an ageing society]

This paper aims at examining the intrinsic relationship between employment and the health and psychological well-being of workers, with a particular focus on mature female workers in their career progression. The article first summarizes theoretical contributions that have highlighted a strong connection between job quality and worker well-being, then it discusses empirical evidence regarding the causal link between work and the health of mature workers. In particular, the paper investigates the health effects of extended working careers, often induced by public policies raising the statutory pension age, which has particularly affected women in recent decades. Econometric studies suggest that extended careers can lead to negative effects on the mental health of female workers, especially among those engaged in physically and psychosocially demanding occupations, with pronounced inequalities among socioeconomic groups (Carrino et al., 2020). The paper then discusses the significant social relevance of these findings. An emerging literature in social sciences highlights how workers affected by these pension reforms faces a conflict in choosing between dedicating time to their work or to their family, and how female workers employed in inflexible and intensive jobs tend to reduce the care provided to their vulnerable parents. Last, the paper illustrates how economic studies can unravel the complexity of relationships between work environment and workers’ mental health, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach in evaluating psychosocial risks in the workplace, addressing the increase in retirement age, and analysing informal caregiving activities.

CARRINO Ludovico;  ARDITO Chiara;  MATALONE Silvia; 

2025-07-14

EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste

JRC138869

978-88-5511-568-1 (online),   

https://www.openstarts.units.it/handle/10077/36671,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC138869,