Britain is on the cusp of the worst sickness crisis on record following a post-lockdown surge in worklessness that is driving a "rapid rise" in benefit claims. Analysis by the Resolution Foundation showed the share of working-age people who are economically inactive owing to long-term sickness had climbed "consistently" over the past four-and-a-half years from two million in the summer of 2019 to 2.7 million today. This is the second-longest sustained rise in sickness-related inactivity on record and just one month shy of the record set in the 1990s. Britain faces worst sickness crisis since 1990s as millions quit workforce, Szu Ping Chan, The Telegraph, 23 March 2024 This is probably reflective of a lack of good quality jobs. When the jobs that are available are lower paying and lower quality, disability levels tend to go up. People with borderline disabilities who could manage to work in a good economy are choosing not to work, or simply have too much trouble finding a job that is more compatible with their disability. (For example, a job that is lower-stress, less demanding, or doesn't require them to remain standing for long periods) Of course when it is difficult for someone to work, better pay and a better quality job makes it more likely that they will choose to work. The other factor that is driving this is an aging population. With a higher percentage of the working age population on disability benefits, one can imagine this will make it likely for benefit levels to be cut.
related thread: Millennials' Chronic Health Problems Will Limit Their Lifetime Earnings (posted in Economics & Trade, Nov 7, 2019 )
