The number of people who have dropped out of Britain's job market since 2019 and who now cite a long-term illness or mental health problems has risen by half a million or about 25%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.
The increase in long-term sickness started in 2019, before the pandemic, before rising sharply by 363,000 between early 2020 and the three months to the end of August 2022 to reach 2.5 million, it said.
The analysis adds to the Bank of England's worries as it seeks to tame inflation, now at a 40-year high. The central bank is concerned that the number of people leaving Britain's workforce will fuel inflationary pressures and the latest labor market data pointed to a record workforce exodus.