Nearly a quarter (22%) of those forced out of the workplace because of long-term sickness want a return to employment, according to analysis of ONS data from Broadstone, a leading independent consultancy.
 
With economic inactivity because of ill-health surging to 2.6 million people as per the latest estimates, it suggests that over half a million people – around 560,000 – are keen to return to employment so long as they can improve their health.
 
It would be a major boost to the UK economy, employers struggling with staff shortages and employees grappling with the continued cost of living crisis. The number of ‘un-working wounded’ has risen drastically since the pandemic triggered a deteriorating health situation in the UK – the current figure has grown by nearly half a million (427,000) since January-March 2020 with an extra 99,000 leaving employment in just the last six months.
 
Brett Hill, Head of Health & Protection at leading independent consultancy Broadstone, commented: “As the NHS continues to struggle and more people exit the labour market because of injury and illness, businesses need to be more proactive when it comes to providing access to quick and affordable treatment via the private sector.”
 
The data on economic inactivity follows new analysis from Broadstone which showed that, across the UK, NHS waiting lists have soared by 65%, rising from 5.6 million in March 2020 to 9.2 million as of March 20233.