Method and material We used labour statistics, social insurance, and income data, for all employees in Sweden, to compare occupational groups (SSYK, based on ISCO-88), and blue and white collar workers, with regard to i) lost years in working life due to death, disability pension and long-term sick-leave preceding disability pension 2007–2010, ii) granted disability pensions 2007–2011, and iii) premature age pension in 2004 and 2011.

Results Years lost in working life were similar for men and women in the same 1-digit SSYK occupational group, somewhat higher for those born outside Sweden, but showed a clear gradient from white to blue collar occupations, e.g. on average 0.39 ys versus 2.40 ys lost for Legislators/senior officials/managers and in Elementary occupations, respectively (women born in Sweden).

In 2006 the prevalence of disability pension in the age group 50–64 was 3.61% among women and 2.49% among men, with 10/10 of the highest prevalence occupations (4-digit SSYK code) in men, and 9/10 in women, being blue collar ones. Approved applications decreased 2006–2011 by 74.4% in women, and 64.3% in men; for mental disorders (ICD-10-SE; F00-F99) 64.9% in women and 48.8% in men, for musculoskeletal disorders (M00-M99) 91.1% and 90.0%, respectively.

The prevalence of premature age pension increased between 2004 and 2011: men 2.5% to 6.4%, women 1.7% to 5.5%. Blue collar occupations were most affected.

Conclusions The socioeconomic divide in lost years of working life between white and blue collars prevailed. There was an apparent flow from disability to premature age pension, in particular in female blue collars. The findings indicate the budgetary savings of disability pensions transferred the economic burden of disease to individuals, and mainly to female blue collar workers.