Musculoskeletal disorders and mental health issues are the most common reasons for Ilmarinen's disability pension applications, the Finnish earnings-related pension provider has revealed.

In 2024, Ilmarinen received around 11,600 new disability pension applications, 1 per cent fewer than in 2023. However, applications from those under 35 increased slightly, by less than 2 per cent.

The research also found that men made up 55 per cent of applicants, while 45 per cent were women. The largest group of applicants were over 60, accounting for one-third of all applications.

This age group also had the highest approval rate, with 80 per cent receiving a positive decision. However, those under 35 faced the highest rejection rate, with nearly 55 per cent of applications denied.

Commenting on this, Ilmarinen director of work ability, Kristiina Halonen, said: "The work ability of people over 60 years of age is assessed in relation to their most recent job. However, in the case of younger people, work ability is assessed for all tasks that can reasonably be expected.”

Ilmarinen granted new disability pensions to approximately 5,500 people in 2024, with the most common reasons for disability pensions granted were musculoskeletal disorders (35 per cent) and mental health disorders (29 per cent).

On average, people retired on an Ilmarinen disability pension at the age of 53. Disability pension was granted for mental health reasons to an average of 44-year-olds, while people retired due to musculoskeletal disorders at the average age of 58.

"Mental health-based disability has often been linked to expert work, but physical workers suffer equally from mental disorders," Halonen continued.

“According to Ilmarinen's disability pension index, disability due to mental health reasons is as common in physically strenuous fields as in office work.

“The high proportion of mental health problems in expert fields is due to the low number of other illnesses, not the prevalence of mental health disorders.”

Disability pension was most often granted based on musculoskeletal disorders in physically strenuous industries.

"In most cases, disability pension was granted in 2024 on the basis of musculoskeletal disorders to those working in the transport and storage, manufacturing and construction industries," Halonen said.

"Disability retirement was lowest among employee groups in the field of information and communication."

In addition to this, the research revealed that musculoskeletal disorders and other non-mental illnesses increased “significantly” after the age of 55 as reasons for disability pension.

Around 90 per cent of new retirees on a disability pension aged over 60 in 2024 received the pension based on musculoskeletal disorders or other physical illnesses.

However, the most common reason for retiring on an Ilmarinen disability pension was depression.

Halonen noted that mental health-based disability among young adults has increased “alarmingly” in recent years, as, on average, people retire younger due to mental health reasons, and returning to working life is also more challenging than with other illnesses.

The research found that four in five disability pensions were granted based on mental disorders for those aged under 35.

The most common reason why Ilmarinen granted a pension was severe depression or psychotic illness.

"The disability pension can be granted either as an indefinite disability pension or as a fixed-term disability pension. The pension is granted as a rehabilitation allowance if it is estimated that work ability can be restored through treatment or rehabilitation,” Halonen added.

Over half (55 per cent) of disability pensions granted by Ilmarinen in 2024 were fixed term, while 45 per cent were open-ended pensions.

In the age group under 35, only 1.7 per cent of disability pensions were granted until further notice.

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