Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed; and what steps his Department is taking to help prevent increases in the number of disabled people becoming unemployed.

The number of working-age disabled people who are unemployed decreased by 130,000 between Q1 (January-March) 2014 and Q1 2023 (A08). Analysis suggests that the increase in the number of disabled people in employment, during the same period, was driven primarily by rising disability prevalence and a strengthening of the overall labour market, particularly prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Employment of disabled people 2022).

The number of working-age (16-64) disabled people who are unemployed was 340,000 in Q1 2023. This figure is unchanged from Q1 2022, therefore no assessment has been made of the potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed. Our annual official statistics provide further analysis on disabled individuals who flow out of work each year, be that to unemployment or economic inactivity (Employment of disabled people 2022).

The Government announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people, and people with health conditions, to stay in, and return to, work. New investment broadens access to additional Work Coach support for disabled people and people with health conditions, introduces a new supported employment programme and focuses on providing faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions.

This new investment builds on our existing package of support to help disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; the Information and Advice Service; and work to further join up employment and health systems, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.

Sources:

A08: Labour market status of disabled people - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).

Employment of disabled people 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).