Non-Standard Workers Have Poorer Physical and Mental Health Than Standard Workers

Objectives: To compare the health status of workers who had non-standard and standard employment in Korea.

Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007 to 2017) were used to compare the health of workers with standard and non-standard employment.

Results: Workers with non-standard employment (rather than standard employment) were more likely to be women, older, have less education, have lower monthly income, perform manual work, and work fewer hours per week. Men with non-standard employment were more likely to have physician-diagnosed cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and to report depressive and suicidal ideation. Women with non-standard employment were more likely to have physician-diagnosed cardiovascular disease and to report depressive feelings.

Conclusion: Workers with daily employment were most vulnerable to physical and mental health problems. Health problems differed among individuals who had different types of non-standard employment.