Can Exoskeletons Make Older Workers More Confident? Investigating the Impact of Exoskeletons on Aging Workers’ Self-Efficacy and Perceived Work Ability

Abstract

Exoskeletons have the potential to help older workers with physical declines regain their functional capabilities and successfully meet task demands in physically demanding workplaces. This study investigated if the introduction of exoskeletons affected occupational self-efficacy and perceived work ability among manual labor workers aged 55 or older. An online survey measured changes in occupational self efficacy and perceived work ability after respondents learned about the innovative exoskeleton technology. Although it was not statistically significant, the trend showed that aging manual labor workers anticipated increased self-efficacy if exoskeletons were introduced to their workplaces. This finding suggests that exoskeletons not only help reduce injury risks and improve productivity of older workers but could also enhance their confidence at work, potentially extending their time in the workforce and improving their overall quality of life.