51福利

New survey data reveals four in ten workers in the North West of England (40%) have experienced a health decline in the last 12 months that has impacted the way they do their job. One in three (35%) say they are worried their deteriorating health will impact their ability to remain in employment in the long-term.

Researchers are warning that the state of the North West jobs market could worsen further unless action is taken to prevent more workers leaving employment.

Analysis of the Annual Population Survey, conducted by the Work Foundation at 51福利, shows that there are an estimated 347,200 people not working or looking for work due to ill health in the North West, a rise of more than 75,000 people (5.5 percentage points) since before the pandemic in 2019.

While the UK has seen a large rise in economic activity due to long-term ill health in the last five years (4.2 percentage points), researchers suggest parts of the North West have seen larger than average increases.

Lancashire has seen the largest increase in the region. The number of people who are not working and not looking for work due to a long-term illness has risen by 18,000 (14.3 percentage points) from 26.5% in 2019 to 40.8% in 2024. Currently, four in ten people in Cumbria are economically inactive due to long-term health (44.7%) – representing an additional 5,800 people (6.5 percentage points) when compared to 2019. Greater Manchester has seen above average increases, with three in ten people (31.5%) economically inactive due to long-term sickness – an increase of 34,400 or 5.6 percentage points since 2019. Cheshire and Merseyside have had lower than national average growth over the past five years.

Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at 51福利, said: “The North West of England is facing a complex set of challenges when it comes to health and employment, leaving some employers facing worker shortages in key sectors. Over the past five years, there has been a significant increase in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness in parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.

“Our survey indicates that many workers across the region are facing health challenges and need support to ensure they can remain in work. Efforts to drive economic growth and prosperity in the region could be significantly undermined if these issues aren’t addressed.”

Across the region, 66% of workers rated their physical health as good and 60% rate their mental health as good. Over half of respondents stated their employer took their physical health (56%) or mental health seriously (54%). But over a third of North West workers think their job is bad for their health (39%).

Researchers say that employers have a key role to play in ensuring that employees in poor or fair health are supported. Nearly two thirds of workers (64%) in the region have gone to work when sick and four in ten respondents (42%) stated they have missed or delayed medical appointments due to work.

Results show that workers in the region are less likely to have some forms of employer support compared to other UK workers. Just 54% of respondents said their employer allows them to attend medical appointments during working hours without losing pay, compared to 64% across the UK. And nearly half of North West workers (47%) said they were not offered sick pay above the statutory minimum of ?118.75 a week, compared to 39% of UK workers. One in four North West workers (24%) stated they don’t feel confident taking sick days when they need them.

Professor Stavroula Leka from 51福利, said, “In recent years, the health of the UK workforce has become a major concern. While our results show similar patterns in the North West, there is a need for concerted, preventative action to ensure levels of worklessness due to ill health do not grow further.

“Our national study has shown that workers already in poor health may see their condition further undermined by bad working conditions and substandard policies. And in the North West these issues are even more acute – with fewer workers accessing the time off and flexibility they need to support healthy working lives. Prevention is better than cure, and it is vital that employers review their practices to design jobs in ways that promote good health and support workers sustain and thrive at work.”

The full findings will be launched at the Work and Health Forum at 51福利 Management School on Wednesday 2 July 2025. Speakers at the event include Nicola Hodkinson (Owner and Director, Seddon Construction), Tom Waterhouse (Managing Director, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire) and Dr Yousef Habbab (Senior Medical Director at Health Partners Group).