New Technology and Loss of Paid Employment among Older Workers: Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the association between the implementation of new technology in the workplace and the subsequent loss of paid employment among older workers. Methods: We estimated the prospective risk of loss of paid employment (register-based) from questions on new technology among 10,320 older workers (≥50 years). To investigate potential differences between work types, analyses were stratified by job function: (1) work with symbols (office, administration, analysis, IT), (2) work with people (people, service, care), (3) work in the field of production (processing, producing or moving things). Results: The introduction of new technology at the workplace reduced the risk of losing paid employment among older workers working with symbols (risk ratio [RR] 0.74, 95% CI 0.72–0.76) and in the field of production (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80–0.85), whereas new technology increased this risk among those working with people (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.26). Being involved in the introduction of new technology and receiving adequate training in its use decreased the risk of loss of paid employment. Conclusions: Depending on the context, the introduction of new technology at work associates positively as well as negatively with future labour market participation among older workers. Worker involvement and adequate training in the use of new technology seem to be important for retaining workers in the labour market.