Long-term sickness is now the main reason women are out of the labour market with poor mental health up by more than a quarter in five years.
The number of women who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness soared to 1.54million in 2023 – the highest on record.
This is up 48 per cent – 503,000 – since 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.
It means women on long-term sick outnumber female students, homemakers, early retirees, and ‘discouraged workers’ – those who think there are no jobs worth searching for.
The number of women aged 16 to 64 who are economically inactive due to depression, anxiety and mental illness has increased by 69,000 (27 per cent) over this period to 326,000, according to analysis of the figures by the Trades Unions Congress.
The umbrella organisation blamed issues such as long NHS waiting lists and cuts to preventive services.
The number of women who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness soared to 1.54million in 2023 – the highest on record
Meanwhile, the number of women economically inactive due to musculoskeletal issues, such as a bad back, increased by 126,000 (47 per cent), and for conditions like cancer the figure rose by 19,000 (15 per cent).
Some 1.29million men were also economically inactive due to long-term sickness in 2023, up 347,000 (37 per cent) since 2018.
Of these, 344,000 were off with mental health issues, a rise of 63,000 (22 per cent).
Rishi Sunak has vowed to clamp down on the nation’s ‘sick note culture’, saying helping people get back to work can improve their health and slash the spiralling benefits bill.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said: ‘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.
‘That means investing in local preventive services and bringing down our sky-high waiting lists.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, (pictured) said: ‘We need a proper plan for dealing with the sharp rise in long-term sickness, not cynical gimmicks’
‘It means dealing with the chronic staffing shortages across the NHS and social care that are delaying patients from being seen when they need to.
‘It means improving the quality of work in this country so that women are not disproportionately trapped in low-paid, insecure jobs.
‘But instead, the Government is failing growing numbers of women who are unable to work because they can’t access the right treatment or support.’ A Government spokesperson said: ‘Our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will help over a million people, including women with long-term health conditions, break down barriers to work.
‘We are also reforming the benefits system so that it’s fairer on the taxpayer and makes sure those who can work, do work.
‘This includes enhancing support for people with health conditions and disabilities through programmes like WorkWell and reforming the Fit Note process so people can return to and stay in employment.’
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