233,700 people in the South East are economically inactive due to long-term sickness – and 54,800 of these want a job, according to Labour analysis.
Official statistics show that 23% of people in the South East, who are out of the workforce because of sickness, want a job.
Since the pandemic, there has been an especially sharp uptick in economic inactivity amongst workers aged over 50.
Labour research finds that there are 10,100 more 50-64-year-olds in the South East who are economically inactive because of long-term sickness than there were before the pandemic. This amounts to a substantial nine per cent increase in older people outside the workforce because of ill health.
High levels of sick workers leaving the workforce have come alongside increases in the numbers relying on means-tested disability and health-related benefits in the South East.
Labour analysis shows that there are 37,484 more recipients of means-tested disability and health-related benefits in the South East than there were before the pandemic.
Labour has called on the Government to take urgent action to help over-50s and the long-term sick back to work.
In recently announced plans, Labour has committed to transforming Jobcentres and employment support services. Budgets will be devolved to local areas that know their local jobs and skills needs best, and tailored support will be offered to the unemployed and inactive people who want help – with services available to a wider group of people than just those receiving unemployment benefits.
Labour will also look to expand employment programmes targeted at people with ill health, including those delivered via the NHS.
Jonathan Ashworth MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
“These findings show a significant number of people across the South East would be working if only they had the right support. Not only would that help raise their incomes and living standards, it would also help grow our economy.
“Labour has a plan to get Britain working again. We will give more power and flexibility to local areas to run employment support services, and ensure that Jobcentres are open and accessible to all who would benefit from targeted, specialist help as part of our ambition to target the highest employment in the G7.”
Stephen Morgan MP, member of Parliament for Portsmouth South said:
“Everyone deserves proper help and support to move back into work, but we know that too many people are not getting the help that they need.
“We have near-record vacancies and no plan from the Conservatives to fill them. Instead, the Tories have abandoned hundreds of thousands of people to worklessness – without support – in a cost of living crisis.
“My constituents deserve a Labour government, which will be committed to delivering an employment support system that meets the needs of business and workers across the South East.”
