Process / pipelineOccupational health

Work Ability Index

The Work Ability Index (WAI), developed by Tuomi and colleagues at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 1998, is a validated self-assessment instrument measuring the ability to perform work. The WAI comprises seven dimensions: current work ability compared to lifetime best, work ability relative to job demands, number of diagnosed diseases, absenteeism, prognosis, mental resources, and productivity. It is widely used in occupational health surveillance, aging-workforce management, and return-to-work programs.

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Sources

  1. Tuomi, K., Ilmarinen, J., Jahkola, A., Katajarinne, L., & Tulkki, A. (1998). Work Ability Index (2nd edn). Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. ISBN: 978-9521070372
  2. Ilmarinen, J. (2007). Work ability: past and present. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(1), 114. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13010114

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Referenced by

ScholarGateWork Ability Index (Work Ability Index (WAI)). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/organizational-behavior/work-ability-index