The number of people joining the ranks of people who are economically inactive due to long term sickness declined by almost 30,000 in the UK over May.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the number of long term sick fell in May from the previous month’s total of 442,278 to hit 412,329. This was the first decline in long term sick numbers since October 2022.
Inevitable hit to productivity
But Brett Hill, head of health and protection at independent consultancy Broadstone, said long term sick numbers needed to drop significantly to ease pressure on businesses, describing ill health as “one of the most critical issues facing the UK economy at the moment”.
“Despite the number of workers flooding out the workforce waning slightly in the latest jobs update, health issues are still forcing many employers to recruit from a tight labour market at a time of rising wage demands while facing the inevitable hit to productivity and budget,” Hill continued.
“The deteriorating health of the nation’s workforce should come as little surprise given the strain placed on the NHS, with waiting lists now comfortably exceeding nine million throughout the UK,” Hill added.
“As a result, healthcare is now at the top of the CEO’s inbox – protecting the health of their workforce is the only way to ensure the health of their commercial operations.”