Enhancing Healthy and Sustainable Working Lives: The Impact of Societal Changes and Risk Factors Across Diverse Age and Marginalised Groups

Research objectives

1. Analyze impact on different age and social groups: We will investigate how emerging workplace changes affect different age cohorts—specifically, young professionals and older workers—and marginalized groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities. The goal is to identify key risk factors and protective measures specific to each group.
2. Evaluate broad influences: We will assess how individual characteristics (e.g., health status, education), socioeconomic factors (e.g., income, job security), and environmental conditions (e.g., workplace safety, community support) converge to influence working life.

Methodology

To achieve these objectives, we will employ:

• Microsimulation models: Utilizing tools like MIDAS, we will project the socioeconomic impacts of societal changes to understand their implications on old age poverty and other demographics.
• Econometric analysis: Through statistical methods, we will quantify the effects of societal changes and identify significant predictors of workplace outcomes.
• Expected outcomes:
• Enhanced understanding: Our research will deepen knowledge on how societal changes and risk factors affect working life across different groups.
• Strategic recommendations: We will develop targeted recommendations for policies and practices that support active and healthy ageing and sustainable employment.

This project is poised to make a significant contribution to the discourse on active and healthy aging, offering valuable insights for policymakers, employers, and researchers aimed at creating more inclusive and adaptable working environments. By focusing on these targeted areas, we ensure a comprehensive approach that addresses both specific and broad-scale factors affecting the workforce today.

Participants

1. Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University, Statistics Unit; project leader – lead researcher Dr. Ieva Reine, ieva[pnkts]reinersu[pnkts]lv (leading partner)
2. Germany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg Institute for Basic Income Studies (FRIBIS); Dr. Tanja Kirn, tanja[pnkts]kirnuni[pnkts]li, https://www.fribis.uni-freiburg.de/en/junior-research-group…
3. Lithuania, Vilnius University, Institute of Psychology, Dr. Olga Zamalijeva; Dr. Olga Zamalijeva, olga[pnkts]zamalijevafsf[pnkts]vu[pnkts]lt, https://www.fsf.vu.lt/en/institute-of-psychology/about-inst…