Work ability is a dimension that evaluates whether an employee is able to do his/her job in the present and in the future, in relation to the demands of the job itself, to the work environment and to his/her own mental and physical resources. Assessments of health and capacity form the basis for work ability measurement, as much as professional knowledge and competence (skills), values, attitudes, and motivation, the type of work and the working environment.
Working conditions that are physically demanding or that imply low job control or that are done in a hindering working environment decrease the work ability of a person.
Work ability can be assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI), a questionnaire developed by the Finnish Institute of