Being sick, injured or disabled was the main reason for inactivity, accounting for 43.8% of inactive people in this age group.
Women were more than twice as likely as men to cite looking after the home or family as the main reason for not seeking work, at 16.5% compared with 7.4%.
Men were more likely to cite retirement, at 35.1% compared with 28.2% of women.
The employment rate fell by 13.5% between the ages of 65 and 66, when the State Pension age was reached.
The inactivity rate rose by 13.8%.
Unemployment among people aged 50 to 64 fell from 3.1% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026.
Around 866,000 individuals aged 50 to 64 are either actively seeking work, or are inactive but are willing or would like to work.
Reaction:
Emily Jones, head of workplace wellbeing at Broadstone:
“Health is becoming a growing fault line in the UK’s workforce, with sickness and disability continuing to keep large numbers of older workers on the sidelines.
“While economic inactivity among 50-64 year-olds has edged down over the past year, the underlying picture remains concerning.
“More than two-fifths of economically inactive people in this age group cite being sick, injured or disabled as their main reason for being out of work.
“And with over half a million 50 to 64 year olds saying they would like to work, there is clearly a pool of experienced talent that businesses cannot afford to overlook.
“People are more likely to develop serious, long-term health conditions as they age, and the pandemic and ongoing pressures on the NHS have only compounded the problem, with people struggling to access the care they need to diagnose and treat conditions before they worsen.
“That is why we are seeing growing interest in private healthcare and preventative services.
“Digital and on-site GPs, health screenings and generous PMI schemes enable faster access to treatment and can provide an important first line of defence, helping people catch problems early rather than waiting until they become serious enough to force them out of work.
“For employers, supporting the health of an ageing workforce is becoming increasingly important.
“Older workers bring valuable skills and experience, and helping people stay healthy and in work for longer can support both workforce resilience and retention at a time when many businesses are already facing skills shortages.”
Marianna Hunt, personal finance specialist at Fidelity International:
“Today’s figures show that around 866,000 people aged 50–64 are not in work but want to be. This is down from around 876,000 last year.
“Yet, of these, the number of people who are economically inactive but say they would like to or are willing to work has increased by 13,000 to 585,000 individuals.
“This is a significant cohort of people and the consequences for individuals who fall out of the workforce in their 50s can be enormous.
“Of the 585,000 economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 who say they would like to work, 62.2% cite being sick, injured or disabled as the reason they are not looking for work.
“That means more than 360,000 people would like to work but are not looking because of ill health or disability.
“The employment rate among 50 to 64-year-olds stands at 72.2%, while economic inactivity remains slightly above its pre-pandemic level.
“There is also a significant gender gap, with 29% of women aged 50 to 64 economically inactive compared with 22.2% of men.
“For some people, it can force them into an early retirement they can’t afford.
“Every additional year out of work means one less year of earning and saving into a pension, one less year for investments to grow, and one more year of retirement to fund.
“At the same time, people are already staying in the labour market for longer.
“The average age at which people leave the labour market is now 65.1 for women and 65.8 for men.
“With people living longer and State Pension ages rising, many of us may expect – or need – to work for longer. But that only works if people who want to continue working have the opportunity to do so.
“Our recent Fidelity Longer Working Lives Index found the UK ranked last among the G7 countries for supporting people aged 55 and over to remain in work.
“Importantly, the index showed that employment rates alone don’t tell the whole story: people need access to rewarding work, continued opportunities to develop their skills, and genuine choice over whether they continue working.
“There is no single solution. Individuals can build greater resilience by engaging with retirement planning earlier and continuing to invest in their skills and employability throughout their careers.
“Employers can support experienced workers through continued career development, flexibility, and financial wellbeing support. And government has a role to play too.
“As part of our “Not Done Yet” campaign, we would like to see the UK government introduce proportionate guardrails around pensions policymaking so individuals can plan for longer working lives and flexible retirement transitions with greater confidence.
“Ultimately, working longer should be a choice, not a necessity. But those who want to continue contributing should have the opportunity to do so.”
