The impact of SCI on Labor force participation (collaborative module of the SCIMS)

PI: Susan Charlifue, PhD
Funded by: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Grant Number: H133N060005
Dates: 2006 - 2011
Contact: Susan Charlifue – Susie@craighospital.org 303 789 8306

Despite a large body of research that has identified biographic, injury related, and educational factors correlates with post-injury employment rates after SCI, we still have a limited understanding of the impact of SCI on labor market participation (employment and earnings). Many important questions have either not been investigated or have been the focus of only one or two preliminary studies. These questions relate to the time frame of post-injury employment (delays in return to work after SCI, early exit from the workforce), comparability of type of occupation and earnings from pre to post injury (are post-injury occupations less prestigious or generate lower earnings?) and the stability of employment and earnings (are there frequent work lapses?). Each of these factors impacts overall labor participation and earnings, underscoring the need for a comprehensive study of the natural course of labor market participation after SCI. The purpose of this project is to identify the impact of SCI on labor market participation using data obtained through modular data collection and comparable existing data from the Current Population Survey of the general population, accounting for post-injury employment rates, delayed entry into the workforce, differential earnings, lapses in employment, and early exit from the workforce.

Aims

Statistically model labor market participation in the absence of SCI (i.e., the projected course of employment and earnings had the SCI not occurred).
Evaluate the association of SCI with labor market participation considering likelihood of employment, delay of entry into the work force, changes in earnings, work lapses, and tenure in the work force.
Statistically model the global impact of SCI on the lifetime earnings profile of the injured individual and his or her household by comparing pre-injury and post-injury projections.

Hypotheses

SCI will be associated with a diminished lifetime earnings profile, for the injured person and that person’s household as a whole, due to delay in returning to work, changes to a lower paying job and/or a reduction in hours.
Labor force participation will be significantly delayed after SCI.
On average, individuals will have lower earnings post-injury due to either return to lower-paying jobs than held before the injury or working fewer hours.
On average, injured persons in households with other employed (employable) members will be less likely to return to work or work fewer hours, and the total household earnings profile will be lower post-injury than pre-injury.
The longer the delay to post-injury employment, the greater the lifetime earnings profile decline from pre-injury.