GETTING sick Brits back to work is the nation’s “biggest economic problem”, a top Labour adviser warns.
Alan Milburn said finding jobs for those nearly three million people must be the “top priority” for PM Sir Keir Starmer if the country is to thrive.
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Reversing the rocketing trend, the former health secretary added, was also the UK’s “biggest opportunity” as it would “grow the economy and reduce the welfare bill”.
It came as figures showed 9.41 million Brits — 22.2 per cent of the working age population — were economically inactive in the three months to June, up 350,000 on last year.
Of these, 2.8 million are not in work due to long-term sickness. Last month, Mr Milburn presented a report stressing the importance of getting people working to aid growth.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall praised it, but stopped short of backing his plan, which included slapping conditions on sickness benefits.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, meanwhile, said the Office for National Statistics jobs figures showed “there is more to do in supporting people into employment because if you can work, you should work”.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said Tory welfare reforms during their 14 years in power had helped four million more people find work.
He accused the Government of having “no plan” to further cut the number on welfare.
Yesterday’s figures, meanwhile, revealed wages grew 5.4 per cent in the quarter to June, a fall on the previous three months. Analysts say this may ease pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates.
But an unemployment rate dip from 4.4 to 4.2 per cent suggests a hotter labour market.
