More than 8 million people, or 20% of those aged 16 to 64 years, now have health conditions that restrict the type or amount of work they can do. This is up from 6 million in 2013, highlighted by a new Health Foundation report.
In addition to 4 million working-age people out of work with ill health, there were now 3.9 million people with work-limiting health conditions in employment – an increase of 1.5 million since 2013
Whilst there has been a significant increase in the number of working-age Disabled people, which affects how they do their job, these workers are three times more likely to leave the workforce than those in good health.
The new report investigates:
- What is driving the increase in people of working age either being out of work or struggling in their jobs due to health conditions?
- What impact does this have on individuals, businesses and society as a whole?
- What can be done to address these challenges?
The Foundation’s findings are part of an interim study by the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, examining the growing challenges of working-age ill health.
The report says that: “Once individuals with health conditions exit the labour market, the system struggles to facilitate their swift return, with support generally arriving too late in their journey out of work.
“Some people receiving out-of-work benefits fear engaging with employment support due to stressful assessments and punitive sanctions, while others are not offered support or engaged with on a regular basis.
“Locally, the employment support system is fragmented and hindered by short-term funding and siloed services.”
The Foundation sets out its “vision for a new approach” by focusing on three core areas:
Proactive initiatives to support worker health
“Employers need to take a more proactive role in managing workforce health, supported by government incentives and better access to information, support and practical tools.
The public sector should lead by example, setting benchmarks for best practices, especially in high-stress sectors like health and education.
Targeted measures are needed to eliminate harmful job practices and promote healthy working conditions.”
Early and effective support to keep people attached to the labour market
“Efforts should prioritise early, tailored interventions to keep people with health conditions in work. These include developing a holistic, problem-solving service that accounts for the needs of smaller employers and the self-employed and improving access to high-quality occupational health services.
To help people find a clear route back to work, we are also considering the introduction of a ‘right to return’ for those on long-term sick leave, enabling them to stay in the workforce through their current employer, or a ‘job-pooling’ service for those who may need to change employer.”
Improved financial incentives with employment and health support to help people back into work
“Many people with health conditions who are currently out of the workforce express a desire to work if they have the right job and support. However, the social security system often fails to aid in this, leading to low re-entry rates. Support is mainly directed at people who are unemployed, leaving those on incapacity benefits or not claiming benefits with limited help.
“Fragmented local employment services and inconsistent employer engagement hinder progress.
“Reforms should focus on improving work incentives, reducing barriers to employment and ensuring that changes to work capability assessments align with these goals.”
“Efforts should target engaging and incentivising employers to recruit people with long-term health conditions and developing flexible support structures that accommodate fluctuating health and caregiving responsibilities.”
Sacha Romanovitch, Chair of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, said the Government needed to develop a strategy that supports a healthier workforce, including clearing the backlog of Access to Work claims, “so that people with disabilities and health conditions receive the support they are entitled to without delay”.
She added that there also needed to be a review of working practices in the public sector where rates of work-related ill health have soared: “The evidence in this report shows that, despite common misconceptions, many people with long-term health conditions are eager to work and can contribute meaningfully to the economy, yet often lack the support and flexibility they need.”
Ken Butler DR UK’s Welfare Rights and Policy Adviser said: “This report is refreshing in the sense that it doesn’t blame Disabled people or those with long term ill health conditions for their “economic inactivity”.
“Instead of placing any weight on conditionality and sanctions, the Foundation emphasises the need for greater employer and Government support both if more Disabled people are to retain and gain employment.
“It remains to be seen how far a similar approach will be taken in the Government’s Health and Work Green Paper due to be published this month.”
The Health Foundation report Towards a Healthier Workforce is available from health.org.uk