Rise in ‘long term sick’ distorting unemployment figures

Britain’s much-trumpeted low unemployment rate may not be quite as low as it seems. According to the Bank of England, no less, half a million men of working age have quietly left the workplace over the past decade and are claiming long-term sickness benefit – and so not appearing in the unemployment statistics.

According to the Bank, the number of people exiting the job market had been 'almost exactly matched' by the rise in disability benefit claims.

Evening Standard | 500,000 men quit the workplace

Author: Brian Amble

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