ONS · people

Economically inactive because of long-term sickness under each government

The full published series with each government’s time in office shaded. The table gives the level each government inherited and the last complete period before it left. Changes describe the period, not a cause. Definitions and caveats are on the metric page.

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value

Government	Inherited	Left at / latest	Change during government
Labour 2024–5 July 2024 – present	2,824,0002024 Q2	2,774,0002026 Q2	↓ 1.8%−50,000
Conservative 2019–202413 December 2019 – 5 July 2024	2,062,0002019 Q3	2,824,0002024 Q2	↑ 37.0%+762,000
Conservative 2017–20199 June 2017 – 13 December 2019	1,991,0002017 Q1	2,062,0002019 Q3	↑ 3.6%+71,000
Conservative 2015–20178 May 2015 – 9 June 2017	2,026,0002015 Q1	1,991,0002017 Q1	↓ 1.7%−35,000
Coalition 2010–201511 May 2010 – 8 May 2015	2,205,0002010 Q1	2,026,0002015 Q1	↓ 8.1%−179,000
Labour 2005–20106 May 2005 – 11 May 2010	2,285,0002005 Q1	2,205,0002010 Q1	↓ 3.5%−80,000
Labour 2001–20058 June 2001 – 5 May 2005	2,342,0002001 Q1	2,285,0002005 Q1	↓ 2.4%−57,000
Labour 1997–20012 May 1997 – 7 June 2001	2,318,0001997 Q1	2,342,0002001 Q1	↑ 1.0%+24,000
Conservative 1992–199710 April 1992 – 2 May 1997	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1987–199212 June 1987 – 9 April 1992	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1983–198710 June 1983 – 11 June 1987	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1979–19834 May 1979 – 9 June 1983	No complete period was published before this government took office.