Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Disability pension and sociodemographic & work-related risk factors among 2.3 million migrants and natives in Finland (2011–2019): a prospective population study

Authors: Waseem Haider, Laura Salonen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2023

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Increasing employment and immigration have been proposed as possible solutions to tackle the problem of the labour force shortage in aging societies. Ensuring sufficient health and work ability among migrants is a key factor in increasing and maintaining their employment. Many studies have found higher disability pension (DP) rates among migrants compared to natives but such studies lack in determining the risk of DP by occupational class and industrial sector. This study explores the risk of DP and the contribution of sociodemographic and work-related factors between migrants and natives in Finland.

Methods

Full-population panel data obtained from the administrative registers of Statistics Finland were used to study 2.3 million individuals aged 25–60 years in 2010. We calculated hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) to estimate the risk of having a DP in 2011–2019 using Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for different sociodemographic and work-related factors.

Results

Compared to natives, migrants had a lower risk of a DP (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.53–0.63). We found great variation between countries of origin, where compared to natives, migrants from refugee-exporting countries (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.22–1.53) and other non-European countries (HR 1.30; CI 1.18–1.43) had a higher risk of DP, but migrants from other countries did not differ or had a slightly lower risk of DP than natives. The associations between sociodemographic factors and the risk of DP were very similar between natives and migrants.

Conclusion

Migrants had a lower risk of a DP than natives except for migrants from outside Europe. The associations between different sociodemographic and work-related factors and the risk of DP were similar between natives and migrants and did not completely explain the differences in the risk of DP.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
2.
go back to reference Autor DH, Duggan MG. The growth in the Social Security disability Rolls: A Fiscal Crisis Unfolding. J Economic Perspect. 2006;20(3):71–96.CrossRef Autor DH, Duggan MG. The growth in the Social Security disability Rolls: A Fiscal Crisis Unfolding. J Economic Perspect. 2006;20(3):71–96.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Karlsson NE, Carstensen JM, Gjesdal S, Alexanderson KAE. Risk factors for disability pension in a population-based cohort of men and women on long-term sick leave in Sweden. Eur J Public Health [Internet]. 2008 Jun 1 [cited 2023 Sep 5];18(3):224–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckm128. Karlsson NE, Carstensen JM, Gjesdal S, Alexanderson KAE. Risk factors for disability pension in a population-based cohort of men and women on long-term sick leave in Sweden. Eur J Public Health [Internet]. 2008 Jun 1 [cited 2023 Sep 5];18(3):224–31. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​eurpub/​ckm128.
7.
go back to reference Asfaw A, Pana-Cryan R, Quay B. Association between longest-held occupation and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits receipt. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63. Asfaw A, Pana-Cryan R, Quay B. Association between longest-held occupation and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits receipt. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63.
8.
go back to reference Orrenius PM, Zavodny M. Do Immigrants Work In Riskier Jobs? Demography [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2023 Sep 21];46(3):535. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC2831347/. Orrenius PM, Zavodny M. Do Immigrants Work In Riskier Jobs? Demography [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2023 Sep 21];46(3):535. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC2831347/.
12.
go back to reference Çilenti K, Rask S, Elovainio M, Lilja E, Kuusio H, Koskinen S et al. Use of Health Services and Unmet Need among Adults of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin in Finland. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2021 Mar 1 [cited 2023 May 4];18(5):1–22. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33668241/. Çilenti K, Rask S, Elovainio M, Lilja E, Kuusio H, Koskinen S et al. Use of Health Services and Unmet Need among Adults of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin in Finland. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2021 Mar 1 [cited 2023 May 4];18(5):1–22. Available from: https://​pubmed.​ncbi.​nlm.​nih.​gov/​33668241/​.
13.
go back to reference Åslund O, Larsson F, Laun L. Joining late, leaving early? Immigrant-native disparities in labor market exit [Internet]. Uppsala; 2023. Report No.: 2023:15. Available from: www.ifau.se. Åslund O, Larsson F, Laun L. Joining late, leaving early? Immigrant-native disparities in labor market exit [Internet]. Uppsala; 2023. Report No.: 2023:15. Available from: www.ifau.se.
19.
go back to reference Claussen B, Dalgard S, Bruusgaard D. Disability pensioning: can ethnic divides be explained by occupation, income, mental distress, or health? Scand J Public Health. 2009;37:395–400.CrossRefPubMed Claussen B, Dalgard S, Bruusgaard D. Disability pensioning: can ethnic divides be explained by occupation, income, mental distress, or health? Scand J Public Health. 2009;37:395–400.CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Kela. Statistical yearbook of the Social Insurance Institution 2020. Helsinki; 2021. Kela. Statistical yearbook of the Social Insurance Institution 2020. Helsinki; 2021.
22.
go back to reference Kalliomaa-Puha L. Migrants’ Access to Social Protection in Finland. IMISCOE Res Ser. 2020;149–64. Kalliomaa-Puha L. Migrants’ Access to Social Protection in Finland. IMISCOE Res Ser. 2020;149–64.
25.
go back to reference Laaksonen M, Gould R. Regional differences in disability retirement: explaining between-county differences in Finland. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(6):609–17.CrossRefPubMed Laaksonen M, Gould R. Regional differences in disability retirement: explaining between-county differences in Finland. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(6):609–17.CrossRefPubMed
26.
go back to reference Polvinen A, Laaksonen M, Gould R, Lahelma E, Martikainen P. The contribution of major diagnostic causes to socioeconomic differences in disability retirement. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014;40(4):353–60.CrossRefPubMed Polvinen A, Laaksonen M, Gould R, Lahelma E, Martikainen P. The contribution of major diagnostic causes to socioeconomic differences in disability retirement. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014;40(4):353–60.CrossRefPubMed
29.
go back to reference Schuring M, Robroek SJW, Otten FWJ, Arts CH, Burdorf A. The effect of ill health and socioeconomic status on labor force exit and re-employment: a prospective study with ten years follow-up in the Netherlands. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(2):134–43.CrossRefPubMed Schuring M, Robroek SJW, Otten FWJ, Arts CH, Burdorf A. The effect of ill health and socioeconomic status on labor force exit and re-employment: a prospective study with ten years follow-up in the Netherlands. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(2):134–43.CrossRefPubMed
30.
go back to reference Gravseth HM, Bjerkedal T, Irgens LM, Aalen OO, Selmer R, Kristensen P. Life course determinants for early disability pension: a follow-up of Norwegian men and women born 1967–1976. Eur J Epidemiol [Internet]. 2007 Aug [cited 2022 Sep 23];22(8):533–43. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17530421/. Gravseth HM, Bjerkedal T, Irgens LM, Aalen OO, Selmer R, Kristensen P. Life course determinants for early disability pension: a follow-up of Norwegian men and women born 1967–1976. Eur J Epidemiol [Internet]. 2007 Aug [cited 2022 Sep 23];22(8):533–43. Available from: https://​pubmed.​ncbi.​nlm.​nih.​gov/​17530421/​.
31.
go back to reference Salonen L, Blomgren J, Laaksonen M, Niemelä M. Sickness absence as a predictor of disability retirement in different occupational classes: a register-based study of a working-age cohort in Finland in 2007–2014. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2018 May 1 [cited 2022 May 7];8(5):e020491. Available from: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/5/e020491. Salonen L, Blomgren J, Laaksonen M, Niemelä M. Sickness absence as a predictor of disability retirement in different occupational classes: a register-based study of a working-age cohort in Finland in 2007–2014. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2018 May 1 [cited 2022 May 7];8(5):e020491. Available from: https://​bmjopen.​bmj.​com/​content/​8/​5/​e020491.
32.
go back to reference Polvinen A, Laaksonen M, Gould R, Lahelma E, Leinonen T, Martikainen P. Socioeconomic Differences in Cause-Specific Disability Retirement in Finland, 1988 to 2009. J Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2016 Aug 1 [cited 2023 Sep 26];58(8):840–5. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27500996/. Polvinen A, Laaksonen M, Gould R, Lahelma E, Leinonen T, Martikainen P. Socioeconomic Differences in Cause-Specific Disability Retirement in Finland, 1988 to 2009. J Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2016 Aug 1 [cited 2023 Sep 26];58(8):840–5. Available from: https://​pubmed.​ncbi.​nlm.​nih.​gov/​27500996/​.
33.
go back to reference Jauhiainen S, Raivonen L. Maahanmuuttajien Kelan etuuksien käyttö vuonna 2018 (Use of Kela benefits for immigrants in 2018). Helsinki; 2020. (Työpapereita (2009-) [169]). Report No.: Työpapereita 157/2020. Jauhiainen S, Raivonen L. Maahanmuuttajien Kelan etuuksien käyttö vuonna 2018 (Use of Kela benefits for immigrants in 2018). Helsinki; 2020. (Työpapereita (2009-) [169]). Report No.: Työpapereita 157/2020.
34.
go back to reference Olakivi A, Kouvonen A, Koskinen A, Kemppainen L, Kokkinen L, Väänänen A. Sickness absence among migrant and non-migrant care workers in Finland: A register-based follow-up study. https://doi.org/101177/14034948231168434. 2023;140349482311684. Olakivi A, Kouvonen A, Koskinen A, Kemppainen L, Kokkinen L, Väänänen A. Sickness absence among migrant and non-migrant care workers in Finland: A register-based follow-up study. https://​doi.​org/​101177/​1403494823116843​4.​ 2023;140349482311684.
35.
go back to reference Castaneda AE, Çilenti K, Rask S, Lilja E, Skogberg N, Kuusio H et al. Migrants Are Underrepresented in Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services-Survey and Register-Based Findings of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Adults in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2021 Aug 10];17(17):6223. Available from: www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph. Castaneda AE, Çilenti K, Rask S, Lilja E, Skogberg N, Kuusio H et al. Migrants Are Underrepresented in Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services-Survey and Register-Based Findings of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Adults in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2021 Aug 10];17(17):6223. Available from: www.​mdpi.​com/​journal/​ijerph.
37.
go back to reference Kieseppä V, Torniainen-Holm M, Jokela M, Suvisaari J, Gissler M, Markkula N, et al. Immigrants’ mental health service use compared to that of native Finns: a register study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2020;55(4):487–96.CrossRefPubMed Kieseppä V, Torniainen-Holm M, Jokela M, Suvisaari J, Gissler M, Markkula N, et al. Immigrants’ mental health service use compared to that of native Finns: a register study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2020;55(4):487–96.CrossRefPubMed
38.
go back to reference OECD. Finding the way: A discussion of the Finnish migrant integration system. 2017 Jan. OECD. Finding the way: A discussion of the Finnish migrant integration system. 2017 Jan.
39.
go back to reference Disney L, Mcpherson J. Understanding Refugee Mental Health and Employment Issues: implications for Social Work Practice. J Soc Work Glob Community. 2020;5(1):19–30. Disney L, Mcpherson J. Understanding Refugee Mental Health and Employment Issues: implications for Social Work Practice. J Soc Work Glob Community. 2020;5(1):19–30.
Metadata
Title
Disability pension and sociodemographic & work-related risk factors among 2.3 million migrants and natives in Finland (2011–2019): a prospective population study
Authors
Waseem Haider
Laura Salonen
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16880-5

Other articles of this Issue 1/2023

BMC Public Health 1/2023 Go to the issue