Labour Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has spoken of his party’s plans to support more people with health conditions and disabilities to return to work. It comes at a time when long-standing health issues among workers are becoming significant for regulators and employers.

Today, over a million people are out of work despite wanting a job. Yet employers are struggling to fill over a million vacancies. Employment is lower than pre-pandemic.

According to Ashworth, a great number of those who have fallen out of the workforce have done so because of ill health while others have taken early retirement:

• 2.5 million – an increase of half a million – suffering from long-term sickness.
• Just under two-thirds of people out of work for ill health are living with a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety or stress.
• Long-term sickness has risen fastest in younger age groups, with the biggest increase for mental health.
• Poor health is increasingly a reason for many over 50s to leave employment as well.

Ashworth spoke of how being out of work is bad for health and the longer someone is out of work for reasons of sickness, the more difficult it becomes for them to return to a job. He said:

“Under the government’s approach only one in ten of out-of-work disabled people or older workers are receiving any support to find work. Through our reform plans, we will ensure local areas put in place targeted support for the most vulnerable, guaranteeing genuine tailored help for those out of work to overcome the barriers they face.

“Taken together, our reforms will mean local areas themselves can build the integrated employment and skills support they need to stimulate economic growth, get more inactive adults including the long-term sick and over 50s back into the labour force, help more adults into high-skilled, better paid work, and address the labour market needs of businesses and the local economy.”

Ashworth also spoke of the need to reform existing schemes such as Access to Work, which currently has lengthy waiting lists, at the Work Capability Assessment regime that, he says, “leaves people trapped out of the workplace, out of the workforce and limits their potential. These assessments can be arduous, lengthy and stressful.”

Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) believes the promises come at a time when long-standing health issues among workers are becoming significant for regulators and employers. She said:

“Mr Ashworth referred to a ‘monumental waste of human potential’ and the need to help people find appropriate and supportive work that is good for them, for society and the economy. He also pointed to the benefits to these individuals, the way good, supportive work can empower their health by growing their independence, inclusion and sense of fulfilment. This includes the two-thirds of those out of work with ill-health who live with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.

“But I see an onus on employers here to have the right policies and processes in place and to explore any adjustments they can make to the workplace, to working arrangements, or through the provision of equipment, support or services to accommodate the needs of disabled workers. This will help each worker to work, stay in work, return to work and perform to the best of their ability, which can only be good for the employer. There’s much work to be done here to find the workers the UK economy needs to thrive and deliver a decent quality of life and decent, sustainable work for everyone. Plans should focus on helping older workers, disabled people and those with limiting health conditions to enable them to gain paid work. These individuals have so much to offer – for themselves, their families and for us all.”