1
|
Baek SU, Kim MS, Lim MH, Kim T, Yoon JH, Won JU. Characteristics and Socio-Demographic Distribution of Precarious Employment Among Korean Wage Workers: A Proposition of Multidimensional Approach Using a Summative Score. Saf Health Work 2023; 14:476-482. [PMID: 38187208 PMCID: PMC10770101 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is a growing global interest in the issue of precarious employment. We aimed to analyze the characteristics and socio-demographic distribution of precarious employment using a summative score approach. Methods To operationalize precarious employment, we utilized data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey and focused on three distinct dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and a lack of rights and protections. By constructing a summative scale ranging from -16 to 2, with lower scores indicating higher precariousness, we measured employment precariousness among Korean wage workers. To compare employment precariousness according to survey participant characteristics, we employed the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test. Results We analyzed a weighted number of 38,432 workers. The overall sample showed a median (Q1, Q3) summative scale score of -3 (-6, -1). The median summative score was lower for women compared to men (men: -2; women: -5; p < 0.001), as well as for young or older workers compared to middle-aged workers (young: -4; middle-aged: -2; older: -5; p < 0.001). Similarly, workers with lower educational levels (middle school or below: -8; high school: -5; college or above: -2; p < 0.001) and non-white collar workers (blue collar: -5; service/sales worker: -6; white collar: -2; p < 0.001) experienced higher levels of employment precariousness. Conclusion Our findings indicate that certain vulnerable groups, such as women, young or older adults, workers with low educational attainment, and caregiving or low-skilled elementary workers, are disproportionately exposed to high employment precariousness. Active policy interventions are needed to improve the employment quality of vulnerable groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Uk Baek
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Seok Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Myeong-Hun Lim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Taeyeon Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Uk Won
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kim MS, Oh J, Sim J, Yun BY, Yoon JH. Association between exposure to violence, job stress and depressive symptoms among gig economy workers in Korea. Ann Occup Environ Med 2023; 35:e43. [PMID: 38029274 PMCID: PMC10654543 DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gig workers, also known as platform workers, are independent workers who are not employed by any particular company. The number of gig economy workers has rapidly increased worldwide in the past decade. There is a dearth of occupational health studies among gig economy workers. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure to violence and job stress in gig economy workers and depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 955 individuals (521 gig workers and 434 general workers) participated in this study and variables were measured through self-report questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 when the score was greater than or equal to 10 points. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, working hours, education level, exposure to violence and job stress. Results 19% of gig economy workers reported depressive symptoms, while only 11% of general workers reported the depressive symptoms. In association to depressive symptoms among gig economy workers, the mainly result of odds ratios for depressive symptoms were as follows: 1.81 for workers type, 3.53 for humiliating treatment, 2.65 for sexual harassment, 3.55 for less than three meals per day, 3.69 for feeling too tired to do housework after leaving work. Conclusions Gig economic workers are exposed to violence and job stress in the workplace more than general workers, and the proportion of workers reporting depressive symptoms is also high. These factors are associated to depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the gig workers associated between depressive symptoms and exposure to violence, job stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Seok Kim
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juyeon Oh
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juho Sim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung-Yoon Yun
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|