A report from the Resolution Foundation suggests that the number of individuals exiting the workforce due to long-term sickness has reached its highest level since the 1990s.
According to the report, the count of economically inactive adults due to ill-health surged from 2.1 million in July 2019 to a peak of 2.8 million in October 2023.
This rise marks the “longest sustained increase” since records began in 1994-1998. Although the government claims recent Budget measures could add 300,000 workers to the labor force, concerns persist regarding the growing number of individuals unable to work due to health issues.
The report highlights that both younger and older individuals comprise the majority of those out of work due to ongoing illnesses. This trend could have significant implications for individuals’ living standards and career trajectories, according to Louise Murphy, a senior economist at the Foundation.
https://bmmagazine.co.uk/news/staff-on-sick-leave-at-record-highs-in-the-workforce/