Struggling with discomfort? You’re not the only one.

A recent investigation of functional capabilities in the U.S. workforce indicates a labor pool that is both susceptible and robust, with a significant majority of employees reporting various restrictions while still performing their job tasks, as indicated by researchers at Harvard Medical School.

Nicole Maestas, leader of the Medical School’s Department of Health Care Policy, remarked that the results mirror troubling national trends.

“Previous studies show that individuals in midlife are in poorer health compared to individuals who are currently older at the same life stage,” stated Maestas, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Economics and Health Care Policy. “Moreover, it’s evident that younger individuals are in worse health than midlife individuals were during their youth.”

The research, released in June in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, utilized a tool crafted in the Netherlands to evaluate disability claims. This Dutch instrument assesses 97 job-related functional skills, offering a much more detailed view of American workers compared to the U.S. government’s disability assessment, which considers only six domains.

“This is the first comprehensive view of the American workforce that we have encountered,” Maestas expressed. “It’s not that we’re measuring it with greater precision; rather, we’re measuring it for the first time.”   

The analysis of 3,396 working individuals aged 22 and above discovered that three-quarters experienced at least one functional limitation. It also revealed that U.S. workers typically reported over five functional limitations each. The most common limitations involved upper-body strength and torso mobility. Frequent issues also pertained to sensitivity to environmental factors—such as high temperatures—and knee functionality. Additional limitations encompassed complications related to the immune system, movement of the head and neck, emotional management, and cognitive functions.

The scholars further inquired about underlying health conditions among workers. The ailments that resulted in the highest number of functional limitations included mental disorders, joint issues like arthritis, substance use issues, and conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The information was gathered in 2019. Although the National Institute on Aging grant funding the project has been terminated, Maestas noted that researchers successfully collected supplementary data earlier this year for a follow-up investigation that aims to identify intervention strategies.

While the employment of individuals with functional limitations is regarded as a success within the U.S. job market, the fresh report underscores the fragility of the labor force and, consequently, the national economy, according to Maestas. The most severe levels of functional limitations were observed in positions requiring continuous physical activity, alongside clerical, service, and sales roles. Many of these jobs are critical. The implication is a workforce that is less prepared for the impacts of a pandemic or another substantial disruption.

“The fact that a considerable number of people with functional limitations are employed is a success,” Maestas remarked. “Yet it uncovers vulnerabilities when considering the broader economic performance of the nation. The context of this study is characterized by an aging U.S. population at an unprecedented rate. We anticipated this situation, but we are now witnessing more individuals retiring than entering the workforce. To sustain economic growth, we require workers.”