Financial wellbeing is often thought of in terms of budgeting, saving, or planning for the future, but one of the biggest threats to it is something many of us don’t plan for: being too unwell to work.

Recent data shows that long-term sickness is rising sharply in the UK, and it’s having a growing impact on working lives and financial stability, especially for those in healthcare roles.

A changing picture of work and health

As of 2025, nearly 7 million people in the UK are living with a health condition that limits what they can do or has forced them out of work entirely. That includes 2.8 million people off work due to long-term sickness – a 40% increase since 2019¹. The number of people reporting a work-limiting disability has also risen by 30%, now totaling 4.1 million⁴.

What’s behind the rise?

The most common reported causes of long-term sickness have been reported as follows: –

• Mental health conditions, which now account for 28% of cases², with the sharpest rise among younger workers aged 16–34³.

• Musculoskeletal issues, such as back, joint, and mobility problems, affecting 21% of those off work².

• Other chronic illnesses including digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and neurological conditions are also contributing².

These conditions don’t just affect health, they affect income, independence, and long-term financial security.

Why this matters for financial wellbeing

When illness or injury prevents someone from working, the financial impact can be immediate and severe. Many people rely on a mix of employer sick pay, savings, or family support but these are often short-term solutions.

For those working in healthcare roles, sickness absence rates are consistently higher than the national average. NHS England data shows that the average sickness absence rate across NHS staff was 5.0% in 2024, compared to a UK workforce average of 2.0%⁵. This reflects the physical demands, emotional intensity, and exposure to illness that healthcare professionals face, all of which can impact financial wellbeing when time off work is needed. And for locums, part-time staff, or the self-employed, there may be no employer sick pay at all.

Periods of sickness, even short ones, can disrupt income and make it harder to meet everyday costs. Over time, this can erode savings, increase debt, and create long-term financial stress.

Final thoughts

The rise in long-term sickness is a reminder of how closely our health and finances are connected. Financial wellbeing isn’t just about how we manage money when things are going well, it’s also about how we cope when life takes an unexpected turn. Understanding these trends helps us think more clearly about how we plan, protect, and support ourselves through periods of ill health.

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1. Office for National Statistics (ONS), Labour Market Overview, 2025

2. ONS, Main Health Conditions Causing Long-Term Sickness, 2024

3. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Work-Limiting Conditions by Age, 2023

4. ONS, Disability and Employment Statistics, 2024

5. NHS England, Sickness Absence Rates in the NHS, 2024