More than half a million more people are out of work due to long-term sickness than before the pandemic, new research suggests.
Three out of five of those who are classed as economically inactive due to long-term sickness are aged 50 or over, according to a report. Rest Less, a group which offers advice and support to older people, said there are 1.6 million over-50s out of work due to long-term sickness, a 20 per cent increase in the three years from July to September 2019 to July to September 2022.
More than one in three economically inactive 50 to 64-year-olds are out of work due to long-term sickness, according to the study, based on official data. Rest Less’s analysis showed that for 50 to 64-year-olds, the main reason was long-term sickness or disability, followed by retirement and then looking after family.
Stuart Lewis, chief executive of Rest Less, said: “We know that economic inactivity due to long-term sickness is something the government is finally taking seriously, and action is well overdue. A rise in long-term ill health has significantly reduced the size of the UK’s potential workforce amongst all ages since the pandemic, but it is a particularly large driver of the reduction in available workers in their 50s and 60s.
“Of the 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness, nearly 60 per cent are aged over 50. Not only is this a national health issue with thousands of people suffering silently, but it’s increasingly an economic issue too – not least because many of these people want to work in some capacity, if the right opportunities were available to them.
“It’s time to provide targeted support to struggling businesses to enable them to offer more flexible working opportunities as well as high quality training programmes to ensure workers of all ages can continue to develop their career.”
Kim Chaplain of the Centre for Ageing Better, commented: “We welcome the increased political focus on the issue of economic inactivity among people over 50. These new stats make clear that long-term sickness is part of the challenge that the government needs to find solutions to.
“What we would like to see is a more responsive and joined-up system of support linking health and employment support in a way tailored to the needs of older workers.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We recognise one of our biggest challenges is how to support people to start or return to work, which is why the department is thoroughly reviewing workforce participation to understand what action should be taken on increased economic inactivity.
“We’re also investing an extra £22 million in employment support for people aged 50 and over, expanding our Jobcentre Mid-Life MOT service and providing personalised support through our Older Worker Champions. Additionally, we are looking at plans to improve support for disabled people and people with health conditions.”
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