Two out of five in Sunderland are 'economically inactive'

The figures came in the week Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled his ‘back to work’ budget

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 100,125 people out of the city’s population of 274,171 were economically inactive when the census was done in March 2021.

It meant 44.3% of over-16s in the area were economically inactive.

Economically inactive people are adults who do not have a job, will not be starting work in the next two weeks, or have not looked for work in the month.

In England and Wales, 19.1 million people (39.4%) were economically inactive.

The census figures show 14,920 Sunderland residents were not working or looking for work due to long-term sickness or disability and a further 55,755 had retired.

Mr Hunt said he will deliver growth with his 'back to work' Budget by "removing obstacles that stop businesses investing, tackling labour shortages that stop them recruiting, and by breaking down barriers that stop people working".

Amanda Walters, director of the Safe Sick Pay campaign, highlighted rising numbers of people not working due to long-term sickness or disability.

She added: "Help from the Government to support these people back into work will be very welcome, but people fear what happens if they get ill again.

"The 'back to work' Budget had the right focus, but it was an own goal from the Chancellor not to make sick pay available for everyone from the first day of illness."