Staggering Increase Over Past Three Years
The number of individuals signed off work due to long-term sickness has reached a record high of over 2.8 million, marking a significant increase of 700,000 over the past three years.
Escalating Economically Inactive Numbers
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are now 9.4 million economically inactive individuals aged 16 to 64 who are neither working nor seeking employment, the highest figure since 2012 following the 2008 financial crisis.
Challenges Faced by the UK
Ben Harrison from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University points out unresolved structural issues in the UK jobs market, emphasizing the need to support long-term sick individuals to secure sustained employment, a crucial challenge for the next government.
Criticism Towards Government
Critics highlight NHS waiting times as a barrier preventing some individuals from returning to work, with Paul Nowak from the Trades Union Congress criticizing the government for attacking those who are too unwell to work.
Government Response
Welfare Secretary Mel Stride acknowledged the rise in long-term sickness-related inactivity since the pandemic, emphasizing the government's efforts to address the issue through a £2.5 billion back-to-work plan aimed at transforming lives and boosting the economy.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/politics/tory-leadership-hopeful-kemi-badenoch-votes-against-sweeping-smoking-ban/
