Economic Inactivity Surges Amid Mounting Health and Social Crises

• Rise in economic inactivity rate to 22.2% - 275,000 more people out of work than a year ago due to health issues, care duties, early retirement • Reversal of post-covid trends as issues like NHS delays, benefit cuts, mental health crisis force people out of work
• Lack of government support exacerbating problems - poor mental health services, insufficient apprenticeships and childcare staff • Redundancies and job losses indicating wider stagnation of economy • Claimant count unemployment remains low but 156,000 drop in employment over last quarter signals growing issues