Work ability and job demands of aging white- and blue-collar workers in 1981 and 1996

This study compared perceived work ability and job demands in 1981 and 1996 . Two samples of municipal workers were for med by matching according to lo cation (eastern Finland), occupational status (white- and blue-collar jobs) , gender. (men), and age (greater than or equal to 45 years). In 1981, 50 w hitecollar (mean age 51 [SD 3] years) and 214 blue-collar (mean age 51 [SD 4] years) workers responded. In 1996, the corresponding numbers were 43 and 54, respectively, the mean age being 50 CSD 41 years for both groups. Perc eived work ability and psychological resources changed very little from 198 1 to 1996, but there seemed to be a trend towards a mole positive view of f uture work ability. General and mental job demands, in particular, seemed t o be ina easing among white-collar workers. The observed differences in wor k ability and job demands were systematically more positive among blue-coll ar workers than among the white-collar workers.