Long-term illness has driven a sharp rise in economic inactivity since the Covid pandemic

Cumulative change in UK economic inactivity in working-age people due to long-term illness

500 thousands

400

300

200

100

0

Nov-Jan

2020

Nov-Jan

2021

Nov-Jan

2022

500 thousands

400

300

200

100

0

Nov-Jan

2020

May-Jul

2020

Nov-Jan

2021

May-Jul

2021

Nov-Jan

2022

May-Jul

2022