Top priority must be fixing UK’s sicknote crisis, warns jobs tsar

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Sir Charlie Mayfield, the government’s jobs tsar, called for prioritizing efforts to reduce long-term sickness absence in the UK workforce. He argued that addressing this issue could add hundreds of thousands of workers and provide a more immediate boost to the economy than current debates on EU membership or immigration.

Addressing the UK’s challenges surrounding long-term sickness absence should take precedence over discussions about rejoining the European Union, according to Sir Charlie Mayfield, the government’s jobs tsar. Speaking on June 23, Mayfield emphasized the economic potential of reducing long-term illness-related work absences as a critical step to reviving the nation’s workforce and overall economy.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, former chairman of John Lewis and leader of the Keep Britain Working review, highlighted that a modest 1 percent increase in employment could add approximately 350,000 people to the UK labor force. He pointed to recent data indicating that nearly 3 million people are economically inactive due to long-term health conditions. This level of inactivity, Sir Charlie noted, represents a considerable and largely underutilized economic resource.

“There is a significant growth opportunity right in front of us,” he said, urging policymakers to prioritize interventions aimed at improving workforce participation among those affected by chronic illness. He argued that addressing this issue could have a greater and more immediate impact on economic recovery than other policy debates such as housing development or immigration reform.

The economic cost of sickness-related inactivity is substantial. Estimates suggest that ill health-linked economic inactivity costs the UK economy around £212 billion annually. This figure underscores the scale of the issue as well as the potential benefits of targeted efforts to support people back into employment.

Sir Charlie’s remarks came amidst reports of the UK private sector contracting for a second consecutive month, reflecting ongoing economic challenges. His warning underscores a shift in focus toward internal factors affecting labor market performance, particularly the integration of those sidelined by health problems.

While some government and economic experts continue to emphasize issues like immigration policy and trade relationships, Sir Charlie’s perspective advocates for a more immediate and domestic solution—reforming the “sicknote culture” that he believes hampers the country’s work opportunities and productivity.

Efforts to tackle this problem may involve changes in workplace policies, health services, and support systems designed to assist long-term sick individuals in returning to or remaining in work. As the debate continues, Sir Charlie Mayfield’s call to prioritize this agenda highlights the growing recognition of the economic importance of reducing health-related economic inactivity.

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