OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between work ability and work nonparticipation, including long-term sickness absence (LTSA), unemployment (UE), and disability pension/early retirement (ER).

METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based 5-year follow-up study on a representative sample of the German working population (n = 2426). We employed a two-part model to examine the association of continuous Work Ability Index (WAI) scores with the probability of events of work nonparticipation and the duration thereof.

RESULTS: Higher WAI scores were protective against Total Work Nonparticipation (TWNP, an index combining the three indicators), LTSA, ER and UE, the latter among males only. Higher WAI scores were protective also against duration of TWNP and LTSA, but not against duration of UE and ER among males and duration of UE among females.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher WAI scores have a protective role against work nonparticipation.