Hertfordshire Futures Debates: Inclusion Health and the Economy
DateWednesday, 29 January, 9:30am
LocationOnline live streamed - Microsoft Teams
PriceFree event
About this event
This webinar will examine how ill health is creating labour shortages and constraining local economic growth and discuss next steps. It will bring national and regional policy experts together with stakeholders in the first of three webinars designed to take a holistic look at key issues and develop a locally led response and forms part of Hertfordshire's Economic Strategy.
Venue
Online live streamed - Microsoft Teams
Further information
The number of people leaving the labour force due to mental and physical ill health is at record levels. Poor health and wellbeing are putting more people at risk of social exclusion and poverty, while employers are facing significant recruitment challenges and skills shortages. This brings huge societal and individual consequences as well as driving up welfare costs.
Recent data shows that there are a growing number of people who are out of work locally and not seeking a job. These are not the officially unemployed but those who are ‘economically inactive’ due to a range of reasons, including long term sickness.
All delegates will have the opportunity to contribute to the output of the webinar which will feed into the development of Hertfordshire’s Economic Strategy. The consultation strategy will be shared with Government departments, planning authorities, businesses, investors/developers and the voluntary sector.
Key Discussion Points:
Economic Inactivity and Long Term Sickness: Recent data reveals that while Hertfordshire boasts higher economic activity rates and lower inactivity rates compared to the national average, the number of economically inactive individuals due to long term sickness has surged in a decade. We will investigate reasons behind this trend.
Claimant Count Rates: Despite being below the national average, claimant counts locally are high, with varying rates of post pandemic recovery among local authority areas. We will investigate the reasons behind these disparities, and the link to long term sickness.
Policy Priorities: Assessing next steps for addressing economic inactivity due to long term sickness should there be an inquiry as to why – and perhaps a pilot programme developed in response? Why have some parts of the county improved post pandemic and others got worse? What steps can be taken next to reverse these trends and built better pathways to work?
Who Should Attend:
Employers
Policy makers and local government representatives
Healthcare providers
Community leaders/Charity Groups