Record long-term sickness bodes ill for UK economic growth

Years of austerity, followed by Covid, have left Britain with unhealthy workers and businesses struggling to recruit, but the road to recovery, of all kinds, will be long

Britain has a sick economy and it is getting sicker. The clear message from last week's raft of economic data is that the UK is being held back by the growing number of people not able to work because of long-term illness.

There are many theories about why the trend is worsening. Possible factors include long Covid, delays in NHS treatment as waiting lists grow longer, poor workplace practices, stress and the impact of austerity.