The concept of labour underutilisation and its associated factors: a scoping review: abstract

Objective With tightening labour markets and population ageing, maximizing labour potential has become a critical policy priority. While much research focused on the determinants of unemployment, a comprehensive overview of the factors associated with the broader concept of labour underutilisation is lacking. This study aims to explore the concept labour underutilisation and its associated factors. Material and Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey & O’Malley’s framework. Academic and grey literature were searched across PubMed, MedLine, SocINDEX, PsychInfo, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus, and Dutch journals. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were considered. Experts in the field were consulted for additional key publications. Articles published between 2000 and 2024 from high-income countries were included. Factors related to labour underutilisation were mapped against the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework. Results A total of 536 unique academic and 97 unique grey articles were identified. Of these, 14 academic and 28 grey articles met the selection criteria. The perspective on labour underutilisation shifted from a narrow economic to a broader welfare perspective. Predominantly, articles included time-related underemployment, unemployment and the potential labour force within the concept of labour underutilisation. Factors associated with labour underutilisation were found across all five SDOH-domains, though living/working conditions were least frequently considered. Key factors included: demographics (age, sex, ethnicity), health, family/social networks (marital status, children), living/working conditions (unpaid responsibilities, occupation) and socioeconomic conditions (labour market dynamics, social security systems). Conclusion Labour underutilisation is increasingly viewed through a broader welfare lens. Various factors are linked to labour underutilisation, but evidence is limited and primarily descriptive. The lack of longitudinal data limits understanding of its persistence, especially during key life phases (e.g., caregiving). Future studies should examine how labour underutilisation evolves, identify barriers within and across socio-demographic groups, and assess the role of unpaid activities.
Abstract from: 30th Epidemiology in Occupational Health Conference (EPICOH 2025), Hosted by Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 6–9 OCTOBER 2025, Utrecht, the Netherlands