The number of of people joining the ranks of economically inactive due to long term sickness has shot back up to hit a new record.
While May data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated a decline of almost 30,000 in the UK on the previous month to hit 412,329, the latest ONS data for the month of June indicates that figure has now risen to 464,225.
May’s figure was the first decline in long term sick numbers since the start of the pandemic October 2022.
At the start of the pandemic as of February 2020, around 2m people were economically inactive due to long term sickness.
Failing to bear fruit
Brett Hill, head of health and protection at Broadstone, said government’s pledges to cut waiting lists are “thus far failing to bear fruit, leaving the UK’s workers struggling to access diagnoses and treatment to keep them in good health”.
“The government recently launched a consultation to increase employer uptake and widen the reach of occupational health services to keep workers healthy and reduce the numbers out of work due to long-term sickness,” Hill continued.
“While undoubtedly a welcome initiative, this only scratches the surface of what the government could be doing to help employers address sickness absence issues within the workforce.
“With 7.6 million people now on the NHS waiting list in England alone, incentives for employers to fund access to healthcare for employees must be on the table.
“The government needs to be bolder in encouraging employers to invest in the full range of healthcare options to keep their employees healthy and at work as we fight our national health crisis,” Hill concluded.