Workers with a work-related health issue, Workers, across age and occupational groups, especially psychological rather than physical with work-related health issues, particularly conditions, had lower work ability, independent mental stress, are a potential target group for of SES, demographics or workplace work ability promotion. conditions. Participants reporting low organisational and Interventions aimed to improve job satisfaction personal capacity were less satisfied with should promote both organisational and jobs than those reporting low scores on only personal capacity. one capacity variable. As socioeconomic status decreased, work A focus on those with low socioeconomic ability also decreased, even after accounting resources may be warranted. Socioeconomic for the effects of the other study variables. This status could be incorporated into a work ability relationship was strongest for personal model. capacity. Participants working in larger organisations Pilot intervention studies could look to initially reported organisational capacity. This was target organisations with more than 20 particularly evident for younger workers and employees with a particular focus on younger for those with low overall work ability. workers. Organisational capacity was a stronger Intervention aimed at improving job correlate of job satisfaction for white-collar satisfaction through the promotion of workers. organisational capacity may be most effective for white-collar workers. Mental demands were a stronger correlate of The promotion of a stimulating cognitive intention to remain in one’s job for blue-collar environment may improve the retention of rather than white-collar workers. blue-collar workers.
Workers with a work-related health issue, especially psychological rather than physical conditions, had lower work ability, independent of SES, demographics or workplace conditions. Workers, across age and occupational groups, with work-related health issues, particularly mental stress, are a potential target group for work ability promotion. Participants reporting low organisational and personal capacity were less satisfied with jobs than those reporting low scores on only one capacity variable. Interventions aimed to improve job satisfaction should promote both organisational and personal capacity. As socioeconomic status decreased, work ability also decreased, even after accounting for the effects of the other study variables. This relationship was strongest for personal capacity. A focus on those with low socioeconomic resources may be warranted. Socioeconomic status could be incorporated into a work ability model. Participants working in larger organisations reported organisational capacity. This was particularly evident for younger workers and for those with low overall work ability. Pilot intervention studies could look to initially target organisations with more than 20 employees with a particular focus on younger workers. Organisational capacity was a stronger correlate of job satisfaction for white-collar workers. Intervention aimed at improving job satisfaction through the promotion of organisational capacity may be most effective for white-collar workers. Mental demands were a stronger correlate of intention to remain in one’s job for blue-collar rather than white-collar workers. The promotion of a stimulating cognitive environment may improve the retention of blue-collar workers.
work-ability-in-australia-july-2014.docx