Achi news desk-
In addition, 206,000 adults of working age were out of work due to “temporary”, or short-term, illness.
This is the first time ever that the combined figures have exceeded three million workers.
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The number out of work due to long-term illness has increased by 43% compared to 1,979,000 in December 2018-February 2019.
The increase has been greatest, at 48%, for women of working age.
Economic inactivity due to short-term illness for all adults aged 16-64 is also up 9%, from 189,000 in December 2018-February 2019 to 206,000.
The think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the UK was in the grip of a “perfect storm” of poor public health and an NHS crisis, with record numbers currently on elective surgery waiting lists.
Chris Thomas, head of the IPPR’s Health and Prosperity Commission, said: “The number who are economically inactive due to illness has, once again, come in at its highest since records began.
“Economic inactivity due to long-term illness is 2.83 million, while the number not participating in the labor market due to long-term and short-term illness combined has broken three million for the first time ever.
“A perfect storm of an NHS crisis, poor public health – driven by moldy housing, toxic air and a broken food system – and among the highest health inequalities of any comparable country has made the UK literally the ‘sick man of Europe’ .
“And that does great damage to our national economy.
“It is time for this government to recognize that better health is the clearest, unbroken path to prosperity.
“Today’s vote to create a smoke-free generation offers a great opportunity. But ministers need to go further and faster to create a healthier, more prosperous nation.”
The Office for National Statistics figures also show that 1,110,000 working age adults are economically inactive due to retirement, although this is slightly lower than the 1,111,000 in December 2018-February 2019.
The number of adults aged 16-64 who were economically inactive because they “don’t want a job” has risen from 6,707,000 to 7,701,000 over the past five years.
More to follow
