The Impact of Flexible Work on Young Workers’ Health: Longitudinal Evidence from South Korea-The Impact of Flexible Work on Young Workers’ Health: Longitudinal Evidence from South Korea (

The Impact of Flexible Work on Young Workers’ Health: Longitudinal Evidence from South Korea (

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This longitudinal study by Park and Lee investigates the impact of flexible work arrangements (FWAs)—such as flextime, alternative work schedules, remote work, and reduced-hour options—on self-rated health (SRH) among young workers aged 19–28 in South Korea. Utilizing data from 5361 employed young adults collected in 2021 and 2022 through the nationally representative Youth Panel 2021, the authors employed generalized estimating equations (GEE) to analyze the association between time-varying participation in FWAs and changes in SRH, adjusting for factors including age, sex, education, and weekly work hours.<br /><br />Results revealed that young adults engaged in FWAs had a significantly higher likelihood of reporting poor SRH over time (odds ratio [OR] = 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.99), independent of demographic and work-hour variables. The study also found that older age within the cohort (26–28 years), female sex, and extended work hours (41+ weekly hours) were associated with poorer SRH. Sex-stratified analyses showed this negative health impact was present in both males and females, with males exhibiting a somewhat stronger association.<br /><br />The findings suggest that, despite FWAs’ potential to improve work-life balance and autonomy, they may also contribute to detrimental health outcomes in young workers. Contributing factors potentially include work intensification, blurring of work-life boundaries, social isolation, job insecurity, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors like increased sedentary time. The study highlights that the South Korean labor context—characterized by long working hours and rigid workplace norms—may exacerbate these effects, particularly for early-career employees.<br /><br />The authors advocate for policies that incorporate workload management, clear work-hour limits, and organizational support to balance flexibility with sustainable working conditions and well-being. They emphasize the importance of targeted interventions for young workers to mitigate the heightened risks associated with FWAs. Limitations include reliance on self-reported health measures, a one-year follow-up period, and lack of data on workplace support or job demands. Nonetheless, the study fills a critical gap by providing longitudinal evidence from an East Asian context on how FWAs influence young workers’ health trajectories.

Keywords

flexible work arrangements

self-rated health

young workers

South Korea

longitudinal study

generalized estimating equations

work-life balance

work hours

gender differences

occupational health