The number of unemployed Britons taking long-term sick leave hits a record 2.8 million – a third of 16 to 64-year-olds are considered to be economically active

The number of people on long-term sick leave has risen to a new high in a worrying sign of the state of Britain’s workforce.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 2.829 million people were described as long-term ill between December last year and February – an increase of 16,000.

In total, long-term illness accounted for 30.1 percent of the 16-64-year-olds who are considered to be economically inactive.

Economists warned that long-term illness, especially among younger workers, risked “scarring careers”.

Charlie McCurdy, economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: ‘Britain is in the midst of the longest sustained rise in economic inactivity due to ill health since the 1990s.

“This increase has affected all age groups – but especially young people and older generations.

“The increase among young people – primarily driven by poor mental health – is worrying, as long periods without work can permanently damage their careers.

“Tackling Britain’s inactivity crisis will be a key challenge for this government and whoever wins the next election.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘The rise in the number of people out of work is blowing a huge hole in the public purse.

“Taxpayers shell out several billions in benefit payments, while parts of the public sector barely function due to catastrophically high sickness rates.

‘Ministers must ensure that work really pays off by strengthening the welfare system and lowering taxes further for those in employment.’

The ONS data showed that those considered economically inactive – not in employment or looking for work – were at a record high, involving more than 9.4 million, or 22.2 per cent of people of working age.

The breakdown by gender showed a decrease of 19,000 in the number of economically inactive men, but an increase of 35,000 among women.

The data was released as the incoming Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Clare Lombardelli, told MPs that economic inactivity was damaging people’s ‘welfare and well-being’ as well as putting pressure on inflation.

Ms Lombardelli, currently chief economist at the OECD, told the finance committee: ‘We have seen a fall in participation rates in many countries, but it seems to be greater in the UK.

“Employment participation is hugely important. It is a limitation and a pressure on inflation.

Two-thirds said they suffered from poor mental health, with four in ten citing it as the main reason for not being able to work

“It’s also a big economic issue and a really important one if we think not only about people’s economic prospects but also their well-being.”

Earlier this year, a study by the Resolution Foundation found that young people were increasingly blaming poor mental health for being unemployed.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds considered economically inactive due to ill health has more than doubled over the past decade, from 93,000 to 190,000.

Two-thirds said they suffered from poor mental health, with four in ten citing it as the main reason for not being able to work.

The study also found that a third of young people experienced symptoms of mental illness – such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder – in 2021/22, up from a quarter at the turn of the millennium.