Tackling ill health to improve economic activity is a key aim of government’s Get Britain Working White Paper

Unveiling major employment reforms, Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, has published the ‘Get Britain Working White Paper’, marking the Labour Government’s first major intervention to achieve an ambitious 80 percent employment rate.

According to the government, almost one and a half million people are unemployed, over nine million people are inactive, and a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness. Furthermore, one in eight young people are not in education, employment, or training, and nine million adults lack the essential skills they need to get on in work.

It adds that the UK is also the only major economy that has seen its employment rate fall over the last five years, which has been largely driven by a significant rise in the number of people out of work due to long-term ill health, with an outdated employment support system which is ill equipped to respond to this growing challenge.

Backed by £240 million of investment, the whitepaper strives to set out a “fundamentally different approach” to the employment support sector. This is done through targeting and tacking the root causes of unemployment and inactivity as well as better joining up health skills and employment support based on the unique needs of local communities.

That includes tackling ill health as the biggest driver of inactivity by fixing the NHS, the government says. This means deploying extra staff to cut waiting lists in areas of high inactivity, expanding access to mental health support, as well as a greater focus on prevention to stop people becoming ill in the first place.

The outdated Jobcentre system will also be transformed into a new national jobs and careers service, focused on people’s skills and careers instead of just monitoring and managing benefit claims. Mayors and councils will be empowered to join up local work, health, and skills support in ways that meet the specific needs of their local areas.

In addition, the government is delivering a new Youth Guarantee so every young person has access to education or training to help them find a job. It is also transforming the Apprenticeship Levy in England into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy, backed by £40 million, to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills and get into work.

An independent review will also be launched into how employers can be better supported to employ people with disabilities and health conditions, and to keep them in the workplace, ensuring that more people can benefit from a sense of dignity, purpose, and financial independence.

Building on these reforms, the government will bring forward measures to overhaul the health and disability benefits system so it better supports people to enter and remain in work and to tackle the spiralling benefits bill. The government is due to publish a consultation in spring 2025 as part of a commitment to put the voices of disabled people at the heart of any policy changes that directly affect them.

The driving purpose behind the whitepaper is to enable everyone to have the opportunity of secure, rewarding, and fulfilling work.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, said: “To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working again. Our reforms will break down barriers to opportunity, help people to get into work and on at work, allow local leaders to boost jobs and growth, and give our children and young people the best opportunities to get on in life.

“The Get Britain Working White Paper shows that this Government stands unashamedly for work. We will make sure everyone, regardless of their background, age, ethnicity, health, disability or postcode can benefit from the dignity and purpose work can bring.

“We can build a healthier, wealthier nation – driving up employment and opportunity, skills and productivity – while driving down the benefit bill.”

The employment reforms will be underlined by the principle that people who can work will be expected to work, with clear consequences if they do not properly engage with the government’s employment support offer, according to the government.

Highlighting the importance of occupational therapists in helping people get back into work, Policy and Public Affairs Lead at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Joe Brunwin, responded: “There are so many reasons why someone might not be working, and each person’s journey to employment is unique. The best support that someone looking for work can receive is tailored to their individual circumstances.

“That’s where occupational therapists can be really valuable. They can help people build key skills, boost confidence, or address barriers that may hinder their return to work, allowing individuals to find more sustainable and meaningful employment.

“By focusing not only on physical and mental health, but also on broader personal and environmental factors, occupational therapists bring a comprehensive perspective essential to a successful return to work. They work closely with employers to develop inclusive, accessible work environments that support individual needs, to benefit both employees and businesses.

“It’s essential that there are more occupational therapists where they’re needed – in workplaces, GP surgeries, social care teams and housing teams – so that people have access to the support they need.

“It’s also really important to recognise that, for some people, accessing or returning to work may not be possible. In those cases, it’s vital people have access to welfare that supports their wellbeing, dignity, and independence.”