‘I can’t work in the office safely’: the over-50s leaving the UK labour force

The number of economically inactive 50- to 64-year-olds has shot up. Some can simply afford to retire - but many have long Covid or other health issues

I'm still working at home, but only just." Before the pandemic, Melanie Green loved her job in a bustling police control room. But the drugs she takes for arthritis suppress her immune system and Green won't risk going back into the workplace while Covid continues to circulate.

It's a busy environment with people coming in and out at all times of day. There's no way that I could be working in that office safely," she says. The doctor says I am still at extremely high clinical risk."