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The Recent Decline in United Kingdom Labor Force Participation: Causes and Potential Remedies
Author:
Gloria Li
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Mr. Carlos Mulas-Granados https://isni.org/isni/0000000404811396 International Monetary Fund

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Series:
Selected Issues Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2023: Issue 051
Language:
English
Publication Date:
13 Jul 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400248528.018
ISBN:
9798400248528
ISSN:
2958-7875
Pages:
15
Keywords:
United Kingdom; labor force participation; inactivity; long-term illness; retirement; productivity; IMF Slected issues paper; health outcome; decline in United Kingdom; title page; UK system; inactivity spike; Labor markets; Aging; Labor force
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IMF Selected Issues Papers are prepared by IMF staff as background documentation for periodic consultations with member countries. It is based on the information available at the time it was completed.
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This paper studies the puzzling decline in labor force participation observed in the UK following the pandemic. Retirement and long-term sickness appear to be the main drivers, with chronic illness remaining a lingering distinctive factor vis-a-vis peer countries. While the government has recently adopted a battery of measures to increase labor force participation, more could be done to improve health outcomes and increase the participation of the long-term sick and the disabled, keep older workers in the labor force, increase female labor force participation, and improve the skills and productivity of both domestic and foreign workers that join the workforce.
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Cover Selected Issues Papers
Selected Issues Papers
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund