Long-term sickness and the London labour market

Post-pandemic concerns about rising rates of long-term sickness among working-age people have been recognised across the UK. But how severe is this issue in London and who is most affected? GLA Economics has published a new working paper that provides up-to-date analysis and data, with key findings including:

• London faces a long-term sickness challenge. 920,000, or 15%, of working-age Londoners, have a long-term health condition limiting the type or amount of work they can do.
• One-in-10 employed Londoners report a health condition, leading to around 1 million of work hours lost through sickness absences annually.
• Economic inactivity resulting from long-term sickness has grown in London since the pandemic – but much more slowly than in the rest of the UK.
• The rise of mental health issues among young adults in London has been a key driver of the rise in work-limiting long-term sickness in the capital.