Association Between Workforce Transitions Later in Life and Mental Well-Being: The Role of Retrospective Employment Characteristics in Modifying the Benefits of Employment

Background This study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between changes in workforce participation and mental health disparities among older adults in Korea. Methods Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2022), we estimated fixed-effects models to predict depression scores based on labor status transitions, analyzing 23,516 person-years of observations. Subsequent models were developed to examine multivariate interaction terms with retrospective career history characteristics while controlling for potential confounding biases from time-invariant variables. Results We identified significant associations between changes in employment status and depression. Individuals who transitioned to full retirement or post-retirement work faced a higher risk of depression compared to those who remained employed. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the psychological benefits of workforce participation were not observed among individuals in agricultural and unskilled manual jobs, as well as precarious workers. Conclusions Differences in psychological outcomes related to labor force transitions highlight the complexity of the health disparities associated with productive engagement among older adults, particularly in the context of limited public support for aging populations.