Keep Britain Working | Mental health challenges pushing young people out of the workforce

Young people with mental health conditions are nearly five times more likely to be economically inactive than others in their age group, according to findings from the Keep Britain Working Review.

The new analysis highlights the growing issue of health-related economic inactivity, with around a quarter of those inactive due to ill-health under the age of 35.

The findings form part of the review’s Discovery Phase, led by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield. The initiative explores the reasons behind the UK’s rising levels of inactivity and calls on government and business to work together to address the problem.

Sir Charlie said: “Our initial report confirms the scale of rising economic inactivity and what’s driving it. It underlines the urgency that we tackle this challenge by improving prevention and retention of those in work and by creating better pathways back into work for those who are economically inactive.”