Germany’s changing demographics are putting a greater focus on the relationship between work and health. After all, people’s willingness and ability to work for longer will depend to some extent on the state of their health. The health of the working population is shaped by a wide range of factors. Changes to the working environment, for example, and the new demands and pressures these create can impact on people’s health.
And while those with health impairments are at greater risk of being made redundant, they also remain unemployed for longer on average. What’s more, unemployment itself can lead to, or exacerbate, health problems. This is because there is more to paid employment than just earning money; it also has an important psychological role to play that can impact on mental health.
For people facing unemployment due to illness or disability, vocational rehabilitation can offer an independent, supported route to long-term reintegration into the labour market and society in general.
So, what should employment look like, and what must it offer, to ensure that people can keep working for longer and maintain their health? What are the connections between unemployment and poor health? And how do vocational rehabilitation measures affect employability? The IAB’s research focuses on these and other questions.
We have compiled a list of IAB publications and projects on this page that help to answer these and other questions you may have about work and health.
Activities
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