- More than a quarter of over 50s out of work with 2 million on out of work benefits
- Over one million aged 50 to 64 now on benefits with no requirements to work
- Surging “fit notes” see 93 per cent signed off without help
The number of out of work benefit claimants aged over 50 rose by 600,000 over the past five years, according to new analysis.
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report, Midlife Mission, found that the number of jobless benefit claimants aged 50-64 reached 1.99 million in November 2024, up from 1.4 million just before the Covid-19 lockdown (February 2020).
Health related exits from employment have soared amongst older people. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of economically inactive 50- to 64-year-olds citing long-term sickness rose by 21 per cent.
The think tank urges the government to reform the fit note system to ensure it better supports older workers with manageable health conditions to remain connected to the labour market.
In the final quarter of 2024–25, 2.7 million fit notes were issued – a 2.8 per cent rise on the previous year. Almost half (43 per cent) were issued for five weeks or longer – again, a rise on the year before.
Crucially, 93 per cent were advised as “not fit for work”, compared to just 7 per cent that made use of the “may be fit for work” option. The CSJ warn that this “reflects a system that defaults to full sickness absence”.
Instead, it calls on the Government to establish a new National Work and Health Service to take pressure off GPs and provide better support with workplace adjustments.
The report says that this change could help to reduce unnecessary workforce drop-out for older workers and keep them meaningfully engaged with employment, even if at a reduced level.
It goes on to say how GPs, the main issuers of fit notes, often lack the time and training to assess what reasonable adjustments might help a patient stay in work. As a result, many fit notes lack the kind of practical detail employers need to support staff with modifications that could support them in staying in work.
Since 2019, the UK has experienced a huge decline in workforce participation, which accelerated during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now one of the major obstacles to economic recovery.
The CSJ argue that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on older workers, with the economic inactivity rate among 50- to 64-year-olds at 25.9 as of May 2025, more than double the 11.5 per cent rate for 35- to 49-year olds.
The think tank highlights how people aged 50 to 64 years old account for almost a third (32 per cent) of the total increase in economic inactivity among 16 to 64-year-olds since Covid. This translates to around 185,000 more 50- to 64-year-olds who are not in work and not looking for work.
By contrast, economic inactivity among those aged 35 to 49 has decreased over the same period.
The report also highlights significant gender disparities, with 29.5 per cent of women as of May 2025 being economically inactive, compared to 22.2 per cent of men. One of the main reasons for this is barriers to re-entry into the workforce – including caring responsibilities – which disproportionately affects older women.
Alarmingly, the number of economic inactive older people who say they would like to work has declined from 19 per cent in 2015 to just 14 per cent in 2024. Of those willing to work, most are not actively seeking employment, highlighting a critical yet overlooked pool of potential labour market participants.
Ahead of the independent review by Sir Charles Mayfield, the Centre for Social Justice is calling on the Government to renew the strategy for older workers with a smarter, more tailored approach to boost employment, reduce benefit dependency, and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
Pointing to the early findings of Sir Charles Mayfield’s review, it says that the Government should “urgently improve access to occupational health services to help older workers stay in work.”
Other recommendations include:
- New age-specific employment targets for workers in their 50s and 60s
- Nationwide rollout of WorkWell to establish a new National Work and Health Service
- Enhanced Access to Work provision to give older workers with health conditions help faster
- Strengthened occupational health services to prevent older workers from becoming inactive
- Age-specialist careers guidance through the new National Jobs and Careers Service (NJCS)
In the foreword to the report, Carolyn Harris, Labour MP for Neath & Swansea East, and Vice Chair of the CSJ, said:
“As this timely report shows, the UK economy is facing a “midlife crisis”. The number of people aged 50-64 on out of work benefits increased by over half a million in just the four years since the pandemic.
“Health Secretary Wes Streeting is championing the right ideas with his WorkWell scheme but the Government should now mature the pilot into a National Work and Health Service, helping to stem the flow of the 300,000 or so who exit work every year due to sickness, and ensuring people get the support they need.”
Harris has campaigned on better awareness among employers for workplace adjustments related to menopause. According to the Fawcett Society, one in ten women who experience menopausal symptoms leave their jobs as a direct consequence, with others reducing hours or avoiding promotions altogether.
Mercy Muroki, Development Director at the Centre for Social Justice, said:
“Workers over 50 bring decades of skills, insight, and experience.
“Even a modest rise in employment among economically inactive people over 50 could generate billions in tax revenue and welfare savings.
“By adopting the measures set out in this report, the government can improve labour market outcomes for older people, reduce welfare dependency, and build a more inclusive, resilient labour market.”
Notes to Editors
- Methodology: the CSJ analysed combined benefit data from the DWP to understand the total number of over 50s on out of work benefits – taking into account Universal Credit as well as legacy benefits (DWP, Stat-Xplore). In the latest data (Nov 2024) there were 1.99 million claimants, 560,000 more than before the pandemic (Feb 2020).
Read the CSJ’s new report on rising economic inactivity amongst older people here: centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/midlife-mission.
To receive reminders about the CSJ’s upcoming reports and events, sign up to their mailing list by going to centreforsocialjustice.org.uk and scrolling down to the bottom of the homepage.
About The Centre for Social Justice
Established in 2004, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is an independent think tank that studies the root causes of Britain’s social problems and addresses them by recommending practical, workable policy interventions. The CSJ’s vision is to give people in the UK who are experiencing multiple disadvantage and injustice every possible opportunity to reach their full potential.
The majority of the CSJ’s work is organised around five “pathways to poverty”, first identified in our ground-breaking 2007 report Breakthrough Britain. These are: educational failure; family breakdown; economic dependency and worklessness; addiction to drugs and alcohol; and severe personal debt.
Since its inception, the CSJ has changed the landscape of our political discourse by putting social justice at the heart of British politics. This has led to a transformation in Government thinking and policy. For instance, in March 2013, the CSJ report It Happens Here shone a light on the horrific reality of human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK. As a direct result, the Government passed the Modern Slavery Act 2015, one of the first pieces of legislation in the world to address slavery and trafficking in the 21st century. Other CSJ policy initiatives include Universal Credit, Universal Support, and the Into Work Guarantee; Family Hubs; Housing First; Severe Absence from School; and Prisoner Work Placements.
Our research is informed by experts including prominent academics, practitioners, and policymakers. We also draw upon our CSJ Alliance, a unique group of frontline charities, social enterprises, and other grassroots organisations. These are curated by our CSJFoundation and have a proven track-record of reversing social breakdown in some of the UK’s most challenging communities, far beyond Westminster.
The social issues facing Britain are chronic. In 2025 and beyond, we will continue to advance the cause of social justice and connect the back streets of Britain with the corridors of power, so that more people can continue to fulfil their potential.
ENDS ALL
