Occupational Injuries in a Segmented Labor Market: Analyzing Varied Patterns of Status Recovery across Labor Market Statuses in Korea
Occupational Injuries in a Segmented Labor Market: Analyzing Varied Patterns of Status Recovery across Labor Market Statuses in Korea
Tuesday, 8 July 2025: 00:00
Location: SJES008 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Oral Presentation
This study evaluates the occupational return outcomes of workers with occupational injuries, focusing on the restoration of their pre-injury labor market status and analyzing differences across various labor market positions. Specifically, I examine whether the recovery of labor market status and the time required for this recovery differ based on the worker's position at the time of injury. I also investigate whether factors influencing status recovery vary according to the initial labor market position.
Using Cox regression analysis on data from the second cohort of the <PSWCI>, these findings reveal that workers in higher labor market positions at the time of injury experience significantly longer periods to status recovery. When examining influencing factors by initial labor market position, I find that for lower-status workers, age, treatment duration, disability, and health status significantly impact status recovery. However, for higher-status workers, these factors become less influential, while the importance of returning to the original workplace increases. These results can be attributed to the segmented labor market structure in Korea, where higher-tier labor markets, offering relatively high wages and stable employment, may present greater discrimination against injured workers attempting to re-enter or maintain their positions.
To address the limitations in assessing the impact of occupational injuries on lower-status workers' labor market experiences, I conducted an additional analysis using a difference-in-differences (DID) method. This analysis focused on construction day laborers, a high-risk group for occupational injuries, examining changes in job instability before and after injury. Results indicate that construction day laborers experience increased job instability post-injury, with longer periods of unemployment and shorter job retention periods.
These findings suggest the need for differentiated vocational rehabilitation policies based on workers' initial labor market status and highlight the importance of considering the nuanced impacts of occupational injuries on job instability, particularly for vulnerable worker groups.
Using Cox regression analysis on data from the second cohort of the <PSWCI>, these findings reveal that workers in higher labor market positions at the time of injury experience significantly longer periods to status recovery. When examining influencing factors by initial labor market position, I find that for lower-status workers, age, treatment duration, disability, and health status significantly impact status recovery. However, for higher-status workers, these factors become less influential, while the importance of returning to the original workplace increases. These results can be attributed to the segmented labor market structure in Korea, where higher-tier labor markets, offering relatively high wages and stable employment, may present greater discrimination against injured workers attempting to re-enter or maintain their positions.
To address the limitations in assessing the impact of occupational injuries on lower-status workers' labor market experiences, I conducted an additional analysis using a difference-in-differences (DID) method. This analysis focused on construction day laborers, a high-risk group for occupational injuries, examining changes in job instability before and after injury. Results indicate that construction day laborers experience increased job instability post-injury, with longer periods of unemployment and shorter job retention periods.
These findings suggest the need for differentiated vocational rehabilitation policies based on workers' initial labor market status and highlight the importance of considering the nuanced impacts of occupational injuries on job instability, particularly for vulnerable worker groups.