The United Kingdom is currently experiencing a historic surge in long-term sickness absences, reaching a record high of over 2.8 million individuals. This marks a substantial increase of 700,000 people over the past three years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Before the pandemic hit, around 2.1 million individuals were deemed economically inactive due to long-term sickness, indicating a concerning upward trend in health-related work absences.
Analysts from HSBC have flagged this trend as alarming, noting that the total number of individuals aged 16 to 64 who are inactive due to long-term sickness has risen by 36% since the end of 2019. This surge in long-term sickness absences not only impacts individual livelihoods but also poses significant challenges to economic recovery efforts, exacerbating inflationary pressures and limiting the labor force pool available for businesses. Charlie McCurdy of the Resolution Foundation raises concerns about the broader economic implications of this crisis, citing rising redundancies, declining job levels, and stagnant economic growth as indicators of a struggling economy.
Experts believe that the unprecedented rise in long-term sickness absences can be attributed to a variety of factors, including delays in receiving routine healthcare treatments, a surge in mental health issues, and stricter access to essential benefits. However, there is no clear consensus among specialists regarding the primary drivers behind this concerning trend. This surge in economically inactive individuals extends beyond long-term sickness absences, with the overall number of economically inactive working-age individuals in the UK standing at 9.4 million, a level not seen since 2012, highlighting the severity of the current economic challenges facing the nation.
In response to this crisis, Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, has acknowledged the rise in long-term sickness-related inactivity since the pandemic and emphasized the importance of their £2.5 billion back-to-work plan aimed at transforming lives and boosting the economy. Stride mentioned that their welfare reforms are expected to reduce the number of people to be placed in the highest tier of incapacity benefits by over 370,000. Additionally, with millions benefiting from an increase in the national minimum wage, Stride emphasized the significance of work, rather than welfare, in providing financial security for British households.