A Study of Precarious Labor and Its Determinants of Precarious Labor in New Middle-Aged Adults: Using Group Based Trajectory Analysis

Abstract

This study examines perceived labor market instability among middle-aged individuals, categorizing it by employment status, income level, and social insurance expectations, and analyzing the factors that influence precarious labor experiences of new middle-aged adults. Utilizing data from the 5th to 9th waves (2014-2022) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), managed by the Korea Employment Information Service, this research employs group-based trajectory modeling to categorize labor market trajectories. The analysis identifies five distinct precarious labor archetypes: (1) Low-income Non-wage Workers, (2) Low-income Self-employment-oriented Workers, (3) Middle-income Self-employed Workers, (4) Low-to-middle-income Unskilled Workers, and (5) High-income Full-time Workers. Key determinants influencing these trajectories include gender, age, educational attainment, quality of life, and employment stability. The findings elucidate the dynamic labor market transitions experienced by new middle-aged individuals and offer significant implications for policy development and scholarly research, emphasizing the need to address the specific vulnerabilities and roles of this population.