Normative values for paid and unpaid work productivity for estimating productivity-adjusted life expectancy in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Normative regional estimates of productivity are essential for deriving reliable predictions of productivity-adjusted life expectancy (PALE). This study aimed to establish Finnish population norms for health-related productivity by estimating age- and sex-specific norms for paid and unpaid work productivity indices, as well as combined weighted productivity index. Using national life expectancy data, corresponding PALE values were also estimated. METHODS: Data were derived from a digital survey of a geographically and demographically representative sample of the Finnish adult population aged 18-79 years between June and August 2024 (n = 3644). Population-level productivity indices were estimated using the WPAI General Health Questionnaire for five-year age groups by sex with values ranging from 0 (completely unproductive) to 1 (completely productive). PALEs were estimated by multiplying weighted productivity indices with life expectancy estimates obtained from the Statistics Finland. Undiscounted, 1.5% and 3% discounted PALEs were produced. RESULTS: The weighted productivity index for the total population was 0.770 (male 0.780; female 0.760). At age 20, PALE for males was 42.9 years (undiscounted), 29.3 years (1.5% discount), and 21.3 years (3% discount). For female, corresponding PALE values were 46.1 years (undiscounted), 30.4 years (1.5% discount), and 21.6 years (3% discount). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first population-level normative estimates of health-related productivity in Finland, covering both paid and unpaid work. These norms offer an important benchmark for burden-of-disease analyses and support evaluation of productivity impacts across demographic subgroups. Continued refinement is warranted as more detailed data on unpaid work and productivity losses become available.