1.6 million people aged over 50 unable to work due to long-term sickness

The figure has increased by 20% in the past three years, according to analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures by Rest Less, a digital community for the over 50s.

The data compared reasons for economic inactivity by age group in July-September 2019 and July-September 2022.

It found that the number of economically inactive people aged 50+ due to long-term sickness increased from 1.35 million in July-September 2019 to 1.62m in the same time period in 2022 – an increase of 270,000 or 20%.

It showed that of the 2.8 million people out of work because of long-term sickness, nearly 60% were aged over 50. In total, almost 40% of economically inactive 50 to 64-year-olds were out of work because of long-term sickness.

It comes as millions of patients with long-term health conditions struggle amid long NHS waiting lists, as the health service struggles to keep up with demand.

A rise in long-term sickness has significantly reduced the size of the UK’s potential workforce across all ages since the pandemic, however, the age 50-64 group are a particularly large driver of the reduction.

“Not only is this a national health issue with thousands of people suffering silently but it’s increasingly an economic issue too – not least because many of these people would like to work in some capacity, if the right opportunities were available to them,” said Stuart Lewis, the chief executive of Rest Less.

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On Friday, Jeremy Hunt told early retirees in a keynote speech on Friday that “Britain needs you” as he promised a “fundamental programme of reforms” to tackle Britain’s shrinking workforce.

Kim Chaplain, a specialist adviser for work at the charity the Centre for Ageing Better, said. “These new stats make clear that long-term sickness is part of the challenge that the government needs to find solutions to.”

“Among the thousands highlighted, many are currently stuck within, or outside, an employment support system that does not work for them. What we would like to see is a more responsive and joined up system of support linking health and employment support in a way tailored to the needs of older workers.

She added employers can do their bit by allowing staff be flexible and providing occupational health support.

“Employers can play their part too by ensuring that they are offering workers the flexible work opportunities and the occupational health support that would give employees the opportunity to try and manage any health issues they might have within employment rather than having to manage their health full-time as long-term sick because they could not find the right balance in employment.”

Rest Less works with a number of businesses actively pursuing multigenerational workforces and who are offering remote and flexible working opportunities, including Ageas, and pub chain Fuller, Smith and Turner is currently recruiting through Rest Less.