New ONS data out today reveals that:

• a third of working age adults have at least one long-term health condition and
• the number of us economically inactive because of long-term sickness has risen to over 2.5 million people.

David Sinclair, Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre – UK, the UK’s leading authority on the impact of longevity on society said,

“With one third of us reporting a long-term health condition and 2.5 million economically inactive because of long term sickness we face a sickness crisis.

ILC research reveals that the UK faces a shortfall of 2.6 million workers by 2030. Our economy will wither without investment in prevention as the UK ages and becomes sicker.

Higher spending on preventative health results in longer working lives, more consumption, more volunteering and more caring. The UK should follow Canada’s lead and spend 6% of its health budget on preventative health.

The nature of the challenge is more serious than painted in the data as it doesn’t take into account all older workers. Perplexingly, the ONS define working age as people aged 16 to 64 despite the fact that the state pension age is now 66 and most 16 to 18 year olds are not in work.”

Ends

Reference

Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 26 July 2023, ONS website, article, Rising ill-health and economic inactivity because of long-term sickness, UK: 2019 to 2023

International Longevity Centre – UK

ILC is the UK’s leading authority on the impact of longevity on society. We combine evidence, solutions and networks to make change happen.

We help governments, policy-makers, businesses and employers develop and implement solutions to ensure we all live happier, healthier and more fulfilling longer lives.

We want a society where we all live happier, healthier and more fulfilling longer lives, where tomorrow is better than today and where future generations are better off. ILC wants to help forge a new vision for the 100-year life where we all have the opportunity to learn across our lives and where new technology helps us contribute more to society.

Contact

Press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 7736 124 096