Employment Quality Trajectories and Life Satisfaction Among the Second Baby Boomers In South Korea

Background/Purpose

In South Korea, the life satisfaction score for older adults was reported to be 6.1 out of 10, lower than the OECD average of 6.7 (Statistics Korea, 2021; OECD, 2024). As the second baby boomers (born 1964–1974) approach later life, their well-being becomes increasingly urgent. From a life course perspective, well-being in later life reflects the accumulation of employment experiences across career stages. Given that the second baby boomers span a ten-year birth range, understanding how employment quality trajectory effects vary between those in early midlife (50–54) and those approaching retirement age (55–59) is essential for designing stage-specific interventions. This study identifies distinct employment quality trajectory types by age group among second baby boomers in South Korea and examines their associations with life satisfaction.

Methods

We analyzed employment quality data from the 10th through 26th waves of the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study, with life satisfaction measured at the 27th wave. The analytic sample consisted of 1,091 second baby boomers. Employment quality was operationalized across six dimensions: employment security, income security, non-standard working hours, social insurance coverage, career development opportunities, and labor union membership. Each dimension was coded ordinally (0 = unemployed, 1 = insecurity, 2 = security). Mixed-effects ordered logistic regression estimated individual-level random intercepts and slopes, which were used to classify respondents into six trajectory groups combining level (low/high) and direction (de-accumulation, stable, or accumulation). Ordered logistic regression then examined associations between trajectory group membership and life satisfaction. Subgroup analyses compared those born 1970–1974 and 1965–1969.

Results

Across all six dimensions of employment quality, trajectory group membership was significantly associated with life satisfaction (all models: p < .001, pseudo R² = 10.61% to 12.95%). The starting low and accumulating trajectory was the most consistently significant predictor, indicating that improvement in employment quality over time — even from a low starting point — was associated with higher life satisfaction. In age subgroup analyses, employment security trajectories (β = 1.643, p < .001) and income security trajectories (β = 1.846, p < .001) showed stronger associations with life satisfaction among adults aged 55–59, whereas social insurance coverage trajectories were more strongly associated among adults aged 50–54, particularly for those with persistently high coverage (β = 3.163, p < .01). Career development opportunity trajectories showed significant associations across both age groups.

Implications

This study demonstrated that improvement in employment quality — even among those who started from a disadvantaged position — was associated with higher life satisfaction. As the accumulation of social insurance participation becomes particularly critical through early midlife, policy efforts should focus on reducing coverage gaps and promoting continuous enrollment during this stage. As stable employment trajectories and income continuity become increasingly important toward later midlife, policies should prioritize employment stability and sustained income security. Furthermore, career development opportunities should be continuously strengthened across the entire working life, as they represent the most consistent determinant of life satisfaction regardless of career stage.