Bryan HayThe Trades Union Congress (TUC) has released new analysis indicating a significant increase in the number of women economically inactive due to long-term sickness. According to the analysis, the figure has risen by 503,000 over the past five years, reaching 1.54 million, the highest since records began. This trend is notably more pronounced among women than men, with women constituting 59% of the increase in long-term sickness-related economic inactivity.
The TUC attributes this rise to several factors, including lengthy NHS waiting lists and reductions in preventative health services. Current NHS data shows that despite slight declines, waiting lists remain high, with significant increases in waiting times for community health services such as musculoskeletal care and physiotherapy. Moreover, 2023 marked the worst year on record for cancer wait times.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, criticized the government’s approach to addressing these issues, particularly in the context of recent welfare reforms proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which focus on cracking down on ill-health through benefits reform rather than improving access to treatment or work conditions. Nowak stated: “We need a proper plan for dealing with the sharp rise in long-term sickness – not cynical gimmicks. Instead of stigmatising people who are too ill to work, the government should be laser-focused on improving access to treatment and preventing people from becoming too sick to work in the first place.”
The TUC argues for substantial investment in local preventative services and efforts to address NHS and social care staffing shortages, as well as improvements in job quality, particularly for women who often find themselves in low-paid, insecure positions.
