Work and the Labour Market
Work is an important building block of health. Work or the lack of it can affect health directly, both positively and negatively, for example by providing purpose or involving physical activity, or through work related injuries or stress. The evidence that unemployment is bad for your health is clear (Gov.UK). Likewise good work is an important contributor to health and wellbeing across people’s lives (The Marmot Review 2010). However, low quality work can be worse for health than unemployment (Chandola & Zhang, 2018). Health also influences employment. The Northern Health Science Alliance estimates that around a third of the productivity gap between the North and South of England is caused by poor health. (Bambra et al, 2018). The Consultancy LCP recently estimated that most of the increase in economic inactivity since the COVID-19 pandemic has been caused by increases in long-term sickness, not early retirement. (LCP, 2023). This means improvements in population health or employment have the potential to create a virtuous cycle of better health leading to better productivity and higher incomes, leading to better health.
Percentage of people in employment
This indicator is defined as the percentage of all respondents in the Labour Force Survey classed as employed (aged 16 to 64). The percentage of people in employment in Bury for the year 2023/24 was 69%, statistically worse than England average of 75.7%.
Analysis of the percentage of people in employment aged 16 to 64 in Bury shows a variable trend over the past decade. The proportion stood at 71.7% in 2011/12, rising sharply to 77.7% in 2012/13, before declining to 72.9% in 2013/14. It remained relatively stable between 72.1% and 73.6% through to 2016/17. From that point, the percentage of people in employment increased steadily, reaching a peak of 81.6% in 2022/23. However, this was followed by a significant decline to 69.0% in 2023/24, the lowest level recorded in the dataset, indicating a recent and concerning downturn in local employment. In England, the employment rate followed a more consistent upward trajectory. Beginning at 70.2% in 2011/12, it rose steadily to 74.4% by 2016/17, and continued to improve, reaching 75.7% in both 2022/23 and 2023/24 (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Percentage of people in employment aged 16 to 64 in Bury and England from 2011/12-2023/24
Bury has the 2nd lowest employment rate in its group of 16 similar local authorities, with the lowest rate in Bolton of 65.5% and highest in Havering of 81.9%. Data on inequities for the year 2023/24 for Bury are available by age and sex. The age-specific employment rates in Bury reveal notable disparities when compared to the overall employment rate of 69% for individuals aged 16 to 64. The 16-24 years age group has an employment rate of 38.0%, which is statistically lower than the borough-wide average, indicating significant barriers to labour market entry among younger residents. The 25-49 years group shows a markedly higher employment rate of 83.7%, outperforming the overall average and reflecting strong workforce engagement during prime working years. Meanwhile, the 50-64 years group records an employment rate of 63.2%, which is broadly in line with the borough average, suggesting relatively stable participation among older working-age adults. The employment rate in Bury, disaggregated by sex, shows that both males and females have employment levels that are statistically similar to the borough-wide average of 69.0%. The employment rate for males is 73.9%, while for females it is 63.6%.
Data for England for the year 2023/24 are available by age, sex, ethnic groups and deprivation. The employment rate in England, broken down by age group, highlights clear differences in labour market participation across the working-age population. The 25-49 years age group has the highest employment rate at 85.4%, which is statistically higher than the overall average for England, indicating strong engagement during prime working years. The 16-24 years group has a significantly lower employment rate of 52.4%, reflecting common barriers such as ongoing education, limited experience, and transitional employment. The 50-64 years group records an employment rate of 71.8%. Data by Sex suggests higher employment rates in Males of 79.4%, which is statistically better than overall England average, where as the rate in females of 72% is statistically worse than England average. The employment rate in England, disaggregated by ethnic group, reveals significant variation in labour market participation. The Indian (79.4%) and White (77.2%) ethnic groups have employment rates that are statistically higher than the national average, indicating stronger engagement in the workforce. The Mixed ethnic group shows a rate of 71.8%, which is statistically similar to the national average. In contrast, the Black or Black British (67.4%), Pakistani/Bangladeshi (61.1%), and Other ethnic group (68.1%) categories all have employment rates that are statistically lower than the national average. Data by deprivations shows a clear deprivation gradient, with decreasing employment rates with increasing levels of deprivation. The highest employment rates are in least deprived decile of 81.4% and the lowest in the most deprived decile of 67.8%.
Percentage of the population with a physical or mental long term health condition in employment (aged 16 to 64)
This indicator provides contextual information to the employment gap indicator, showing more information on the employment of people surveyed who said they had a long term health condition. As such it does not necessarily relate to all people with long term health conditions but to those who responded to say they have a physical or mental health condition that they expect to last 12 months or more. Only around half of disabled people are in work, but many disabled people including people with long term health conditions want to work, and could do so with the right support. This disability employment inequality is a result of a wide range of barriers and historic injustices. It means too many people are missing the range of positive impacts that come with paid employment, including good health and social outcomes. Around one in six working age adults report a disability, affecting the working lives of millions of people. The majority of long term health conditions are acquired in adulthood, and in an ageing population this is an issue that is likely to worsen. Health is the leading reason for people aged 50 to 64 to be out of work. Research shows that disabled people are more vulnerable to discrimination in work and to redundancy, and are less well represented in well paid, quality work and more senior positions. Research has also shown that the pandemic has had a disproportionate negative effect on disability employment with disabled people 60 percent more likely to have lost their job.
The command paper, Improving Lives: the future of work, health and disability, sets out the government’s intention to monitor progress on the goal by tracking the number of working aged disabled people in employment, as recorded by the Annual Population Survey. In 2017, the government set a goal to see a million more disabled people in work by 2027. This indicator provides a good indication of the impact limiting long term illness has on employment.
The percentage of the population with a physical or mental long term health condition in employment (aged 16 to 64) in Bury for the year 2022/23 was 69.9%, statistically similar to England average of 65.3%. Trend data for Bury are available from the year 2020/21, when the employment rate for this group was 66.3%. It then declined slightly to 64.9% in 2021/22 before rising to its current level in 2022/23. The rate in England increased slightly from 64.4% in 2020/21 to 65.5% in 2021/22 before stabilising at its current rate of 65.3%. Bury has the 6th highest rate of population with a physical or mental long term health condition in employment (aged 16 to 64), with lowest rate in Bolton (53.6%) and highest in Havering (80.5%). Data on inequities are not available for Bury. Data for England are available by deprivation only and shows a clear deprivation gradient, with decreasing employment rates with increasing levels of deprivation. The highest employment rates are in least deprived decile of 72.4% and the lowest in the most deprived decile of 57.4%.
Gap in the employment rate between those with a physical or mental long term health condition (aged 16 to 64) and the overall employment rate
This indicator presents the percentage point gap between the percentage of respondents in the Labour Force Survey who have a long term condition who are classified as employed (aged 16 to 64) and the percentage of all respondents in the Labour Force Survey classed as employed (aged 16 to 64).
The employment gap between individuals aged 16 to 64 with a physical or mental long-term health condition and the overall employment rate in Bury for the year 2022/23 was 11.7, statistically similar to England average of 10.4. The gap in Bury has shown some fluctuation over the past decade. In 2013/14, the gap stood at 16.0 percentage points, narrowing to a low of 7.5 in 2020/21. However, the gap has since widened slightly, reaching 11.7 percentage points in 2022/23. In comparison, the national trend for England has been more stable, with a gradual decline from 13.1 percentage points in 2013/14 to 10.4 in 2022/23 (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Gap in the employment rate between those with a physical or mental long term health condition (aged 16 to 64) and the overall employment rate in Bury and England from 2013/14-2022/23
Bury has the 7th widest gap in its group on similar local authorities, with the widest gap in Bolton (15.4) and the narrowest gap in Havering (3.5). No data on inequities are available for Bury. Data for England are available by levels of deprivation only. In 2022/23, the employment gap between those with long-term health conditions and the overall employment rate in England varied by deprivation level. The gap was generally wider in more deprived areas, peaking at 11.6 percentage points in the fourth most deprived decile. In contrast, the least deprived decile had a smaller gap of 7.7 percentage points. However, the pattern is not strictly linear, with some fluctuations across deciles, suggesting that while deprivation is a factor, other local or demographic influences may also play a role.
Percentage of the population who are in receipt of long term support for a learning disability that are in paid employment (aged 18 to 64)
The evidence that appropriate work can bring health and wellbeing benefits is widely recognised. However, employment rates amongst disabled people reveal one of the most significant inequalities in the UK. Declining health and being out of work deny the benefits that employment can bring, creating pressures on the NHS, and sustaining a major injustice in society.
There are many barriers that face people with a learning disability to access employment, which include a lack of support, employers’ attitudes, and a general lack of understanding of what someone can achieve with the right support, from education through to employment.
Mencap’s 2019 Big Learning Disability Survey found 23% of working age adults (aged 18 to 64) with a learning disability have a paid job. This is compared to:
- 53% of working age adults with any disability, and
- 76% of working age adults (aged 16 to 64) in the general population in the UK.
The NHS Long Term Plan acknowledges that employment rates for people with a learning disability and/or autism have remained low for many years. The COVID19 pandemic has introduced additional employment challenges. The associated NHS Digital ASCOF indicator 1E measures employment outcomes for adults with a primary support reason of learning disability support. There is a strong link between employment and enhanced quality of life, including evidence benefits for health and wellbeing and financial benefits.
The definition of individuals included in the denominator population is restricted to those working age adults that are known to the council with a primary support reason of learning disability support who received long term support during the year in the settings of residential, nursing and community but excluding prison. The local authority counts for this contextual indicator allow users to see numbers of people in receipt of learning disability support and percentage employed, data which is masked by the gap in employment indicator where no counts or denominator values are available.
This indicator is defined as the percentage of working age learning disabled clients known to Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) in paid employment (aged 18 to 64). This includes clients who received long term support during the year and appear in the LTS001a measure of the annual statutory return on Short and Long Term Support (SALT) with a primary support reason of Learning Disability Support. Support settings Nursing, Residential, and Community are included; Prison setting is excluded. The percentage in Bury for the year 2022/23 was 2.6%, statistically worse than England average of 4.8%.
Between 2016/17 and 2022/23, the percentage of working-age adults with a learning disability known to Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) in paid employment has declined in both Bury and England. In Bury, the rate fell from 5.5% in 2016/17 to a low of 2.6% in 2022/23, with a brief increase to 4.1% in 2021/22 before dropping again. In England, the trend also shows a gradual decline. The rate was 5.7% in 2016/17, peaked slightly at 6.0% in 2017/18, and then steadily decreased to 4.8% by 2021/22, where it remained in 2022/23 (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Percentage of the population who are in receipt of long-term support for a learning disability that are in paid employment (aged 18 to 64)
Bury has the lowest proportion of the population who are in receipt of long-term support for a learning disability that are in paid employment (aged 18 to 64), with the highest proportion in Bexley of 15.7%.
Data on inequities in Bury are available by sex only. The proportion in males is 3%, statistically similar to Bury average and the proportion in females is 1.9, also statistically similar to Bury average. Data for England are available by deprivation. Overall trend highlights a strong link between lower deprivation and better employment outcomes for adults with learning disabilities. Employment rates were lowest in the most deprived areas, with just 2.6% of individuals in paid work in the most deprived decile. In contrast, the least deprived decile had a much higher employment rate of 9.9%. The data show a clear gradient, with employment rates generally increasing as deprivation decreases. Middle deciles ranged between 3.4% and 5.4%, indicating some variability, but the overall trend highlights a strong link between lower deprivation and better employment outcomes for adults with learning disabilities.
Gap in the employment rate between those who are in receipt of long term support for a learning disability (aged 18 to 64) and the overall employment rate
This indicator is defined as the percentage point gap between the percentage of working age learning disabled clients known to Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) in paid employment (aged 18 to 64, this includes clients who received long term support during the year and appear in the LTS001a measure of the annual statutory return on Short and Long Term Support (SALT) with a primary support reason of Learning Disability Support. Support settings Nursing, Residential, and Community are included; Prison setting is excluded.), and the percentage of all respondents in the Labour Force Survey classed as employed (aged 16 to 64).
Gap in the employment rate between those who are in receipt of long term support for a learning disability (aged 18 to 64) and the overall employment rate in Bury for the year 2022/23 was 79, statistically worse than England average of 70.9.
Between 2011/12 and 2022/23, the employment rate gap between individuals aged 18 to 64 receiving long-term support for a learning disability and the overall employment rate has widened in Bury, while increasing more gradually in England. In Bury, the gap rose from 64.0 percentage points in 2011/12 to 71.3 in 2014/15, then fluctuated slightly before reaching 71.9 in 2021/22 and peaking at 79.0 in 2022/23. This reflects a 15-point increase over the period, indicating growing inequality in employment outcomes locally. In England, the gap increased from 63.1 percentage points in 2011/12 to 66.9 in 2014/15, then continued to rise gradually to 70.9 in 2022/23. The national increase of around 7.8 points is less steep than in Bury (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Gap in the employment rate between those who are in receipt of long-term support for a learning disability (aged 18 to 64) and the overall employment rate in Bury and England from 2011/12-2022/23
Bury has the 2nd widest gap in its group on similar local authorities, with the widest gap in Havering (80.7) and the narrowest gap in Rochdale (61.2). Data on inequities in Bury are available by sex only, with 81.6 percentage points (similar to Bury average) in Male and 76.5 percentage point in Female (similar to Bury average). Data for England are available by sex and levels of deprivation only. Data by sex suggests wider gap in males (statistically worse compared to Bury average) of 74.1 and for females a gap of 68.1 percentage points (similar to Bury average).
Data by deprivation in 2022/23 for England suggests that the employment rate gap between individuals aged 18 to 64 receiving long-term support for a learning disability and the overall employment rate in England varied by deprivation level. The gap was widest in the most deprived decile, at 66.1 percentage points, and remained relatively high in the second most deprived decile at 65.7. The gap gradually narrowed across the middle deciles, reaching 71.8 in the fifth more deprived and 72.5 in the fourth less deprived decile. The highest employment rate was observed in the second least deprived decile at 74.0, while the least deprived decile showed a slight dip to 70.0. This pattern indicates that while employment outcomes generally improve with decreasing deprivation, the relationship is not strictly linear. Nonetheless, individuals in less deprived areas tend to experience better employment outcomes, highlighting the influence of socioeconomic factors on employment inclusion for people with learning disabilities.
Percentage of the population who are in contact with secondary mental health services that are in paid employment
The relationship between mental health and unemployment is bi-directional. Good mental health is a key influence on employability, finding a job, and remaining in that job. Unemployment causes stress, which ultimately has long term physiological health effects and can have a negative impact on mental health, including depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. The NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019 to 2020 to 2023 to 2024 sets out how the NHS is improving access to mental health support for people in work and its commitment to supporting people with severe mental illnesses to seek and retain employment. Supporting someone to become and remain employed is a key part of the recovery process.
Percentage of the population who are in contact with secondary mental health services that are in paid employment for the year 2021/22 was 5%, statistically worse than England average of 6%. Trend data cannot be presented as trend data are available for one data point only. Bury has the 5th lowest employment rate in its group of similar local authorities, with the highest rate in Stockton-on-Tees of 18% and lowest in Calderdale of 3%. In Bury, data by sex for 2022/23 shows a lower employment rate among males with a learning disability, at 2%, which is statistically worse than the Bury average. In contrast, females had a higher employment rate of 7%, statistically better than the local average. A similar pattern is observed at the national level. In England, males had a lower employment rate of 5%, statistically worse than the England average, while females had a higher rate of 7%, statistically better than the national average.
Gap in the employment rate for those who are in contact with secondary mental health services and the overall employment rate
This indicator identifies the gap of employment rate between population who are in contact with secondary mental health services, and the employment of working population. It is based on an associated indicator from the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) and as such relates to a subgroup of people who have been in contact with mental health services rather than all people with mental health conditions. It is defined as the percentage point gap between the percentage of adults (aged 18 - 69) in contact with secondary mental health services at the end of the reporting period who are recorded as being employed and the percentage of all respondents (aged 16 - 64) in the Labour Force Survey classed as employed.
Gap in the employment rate for those who are in contact with secondary mental health services and the overall employment rate and the overall employment rate in Bury for the year 2021/22 was 71, statistically similar to England average of 69.4. Trend data cannot be presented as trend data are available for one data point only.
Bury has the 5th widest gap in its group on similar local authorities, with the widest gap in Warrington (72) and the narrowest gap in Stockton-on-Tees (52.6). Data on inequities in Bury are available by sex only, with 79.4 percentage points (statistically worse than overall Bury average) in Male and 63.8 percentage point in Female (statistically better than Bury average). Data for England are available by sex and levels of deprivation for 2022/23. Data by sex suggests wider gap in males (statistically worse compared to England average) of 74.1 and for females a gap of 68.1 percentage points (similar to England average). Data by deprivation in 2021/22 for England suggests that the employment rate gap between individuals aged 18 to 64 who are in contact with secondary mental health services and the overall employment rate in England varied by deprivation level. The gap was widest in the least deprived decile, at 77.2 percentage points and highest in the most deprived decile at 64.9.
Percentage of the population who are in contact with secondary mental health services and on the Care Plan Approach, that are in paid employment (aged 18 to 69)
This indicator shows the percentage of adults receiving secondary mental health services in paid employment at the time of their most recent assessment, formal review, or other multi-disciplinary care planning meeting. Adults ‘in contact with secondary mental health services’ is defined as those aged 18 to 69 who are receiving secondary mental health services and who are on the Care Programme Approach (CPA).
The proportion in Bury for the year 2020/21 was 5%, statistically worse than England average of 9%. Trend data for Bury indicates that the proportion of individuals aged 18 to 69 who are in contact with secondary mental health services and on the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and are in paid employment declined from 4% in 2017/18 to 3% in both 2018/19 and 2019/20. However, this figure rose to 5% in 2020/21. In comparison, the national average for England increased from 7% in 2017/18 to 8% in 2018/19 and then remained steady at 9% in both 2019/20 and 2020/21. The proportion in Bury remained worse than England average throughout this time period.
Bury had the second lowest proportion of individuals in employment in its group of 16 similar local authorities, with the highest proportion in Stockton-on-Tees at 18% and lowest in Rochdale of 4%.
Data on inequities in Bury are available by sex only for 2020/21. The proportion in males is 3%, statistically similar to Bury average and the proportion in females is 7%, also statistically similar to Bury average. Data for England are available by sex and deprivation for 2020/21. Data by sex suggests a lower proportion (7%) of males aged 18 to 69 in employment (statistically worse compared to overall England average) of 7% and for females of 10% (statistically better compared to overall England average). Data by deprivation suggests a deprivation gradient with lower employment rate in most deprived areas of 5.7% and highest in second least deprived (13.7%) and least deprived decile (12.8%).
Gap in the employment rate for those who are in contact with secondary mental health services (aged 18 to 69) and on the Care Plan Approach, and the overall employment rate
This indicator measures the percentage point gap between the percentage of working age adults who are receiving secondary mental health services and who are on the Care Programme Approach recorded as being in paid employment at the time of their most recent assessment, formal review, or other multidisciplinary care planning meeting (aged 18 to 69), and the percentage of all respondents in the Labour Force Survey classed as employed (aged 16 to 64).
The employment rate gap between working-age adults receiving secondary mental health services under the Care Programme Approach and the general working-age population in Bury for the year 2020/21 was 68.8 percentage points, statistically similar to England of 66.1 percentage points.
In Bury, the gap was 68.9 percentage points in 2011/12, increased to 75.0 in 2012/13, then declined to 70.8 in 2013/14 and 72.3 in 2014/15. After a slight dip to 69.0 in 2016/17, the gap remained relatively stable, ending at 68.8 in 2020/21. In England, the gap rose from 61.3 percentage points in 2011/12 to 64.7 in 2013/14 and 66.1 in 2014/15. It peaked at 68.2 in 2017/18 before declining slightly to 66.1 in 2020/21 (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Gap in the employment rate for those who are in contact with secondary mental health services (aged 18 to 69) and on the Care Plan Approach and the overall employment rate in Bury and England from 2011/12-2020/21
Bury has the 3rd widest gap in its group of 16 similar local authorities, with the widest gap in Warrington of 71.8 and Stockton-on-Tees of 56.7. Data by sex in Bury are available for the year 2020/21 shows a notable gap of 75.7 for males, which is statistically worse than the Bury average, while females had a smaller gap of 61.8, which is statistically better than the local average. In England during 2020/21, data by deprivation decile shows relatively small variation across areas. The percentage ranged from 61.3% in the second least deprived decile to 67.2% in the third most deprived decile. The most deprived decile had a value of 64.0%, while the least deprived decile recorded 65.8%, indicating no clear linear trend by deprivation level.
Unemployment
Unemployment is associated with an increased risk of ill health and mortality. There are relationships between unemployment and poor mental health and suicide, higher self-reported ill health and limiting long term illness and a higher prevalence of risky health behaviours including alcohol use and smoking. Links between unemployment and poor mental health have been explained by the psychosocial effects of unemployment: stigma, isolation and loss of self-worth. People with long term psychiatric problems are less likely to be in employment than those with long-term physical disabilities, despite indications that most people with severe mental illness would like to work.
This indicator is defined as percentage of the economically active population aged 16+ without a job who were available to start work in the two weeks following their interview and who had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained. The percentage in Bury for the year 2023 was 3.4% statistically similar to England average of 3.7%.
Between 2013 and 2023, the unemployment rate in Bury showed a steady overall decline, reflecting improving labour market conditions. In 2013, the rate stood at 7.0%, gradually decreasing to 4.2% by 2017 and remaining stable in 2018. A slight increase was observed in 2019 (4.4%) and 2020 (4.3%), likely influenced by broader economic challenges. However, the rate began to fall again in subsequent years, reaching 3.6% in 2022 and 3.4% in 2023. Similarly, the national trend in England followed a comparable pattern. Starting at 7.5% in 2013, the unemployment rate declined to 4.1% by 2018, dipped to 3.9% in 2019, and then rose slightly to 4.7% in 2020 and 4.5% in 2021. It then decreased to 3.6% in 2022 before rising slightly to 3.7% in 2023 (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Percentage of the economically active population aged 16+ without a job who were available to start work in the two weeks following their interview and who had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained in Bury and England from 2013-2023
Bury ranks 9th in its group of 16 similar local authorities, with the lowest unemployment rate in Swindon of 2.6% and highest in Bolton of 5.3%. No data on inequities are available for both Bury and England.
Jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged 16 to 64 claiming for more than 12 months, crude rate per 1,000 resident population aged 16 to 64 years
The crude rate of Jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged 16 to 64 claiming for more than 12 months in Bury for the year 2023 was 0.5 per 1000 population, statistically better than England average of 0.9 per 1000 population.
In Bury, the crude rate began at 3.7 per 1,000 in 2016 and showed a gradual decline over the years. After a slight dip to 3.2 in 2017, the rate rose slightly to 3.5 in 2018 and 3.8 in 2019. However, from 2020 onwards, the rate dropped significantly: 2.8 in 2020, 1.8 in 2021, 0.9 in 2022, and reaching a low of 0.5 in 2023. This represents a substantial reduction over the period, particularly after 2019, suggesting improved long-term employment outcomes or changes in claimant behaviour or eligibility. Nationally, England followed a similar downward trend. Starting at 3.7 per 1,000 in 2016, the rate declined to 3.5 in 2017 and 3.6 in 2018, before falling to 3.3 in 2019. From 2020 onwards, the decline accelerated: 2.6 in 2020, 2.1 in 2021, 1.4 in 2022, and 0.9 in 2023. While the national rate remained slightly higher than Bury’s in the later years, both areas experienced a marked and consistent decrease (Figure 7). Based on the five most recent data points, the trend in data is decreasing and getting better.
Figure 7: Jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged 16 to 64 claiming for more than 12 months, crude rate per 1,000 resident population aged 16 to 64 years in Bury and England from 2016-2023
Bury ranks 10th in its group of 16 similar local authorities, with the highest rate in Bolton of 1.8 per 1,000 and lowest in Bracknell Forest of 0.1 per 1,000. Data on inequities for Bury are available by sex only. Males in Bury have a rate of 0.6 per 1,000 and females have a rate of 0.4 per 1,000. Both rates are statistically similar to overall Bury average. Data for England are available by sex and deprivation. Males in England have a higher rate of unemployment of 1.1 per 1,000 (statistically worse compared to overall England average) and females have a lower rate of unemployment of 0.6 per 1,000 (statistically better compared to England average). Data by deprivation shows a clear gradient with increasing rate of unemployment with increasing levels of deprivation. Individuals in the most deprived decile have an employment rate of 1.9 compared to 0.3 in the least deprived decile.
Economic inactivity rate
The indicator measures economic inactivity in the 16-64 year old population, defined as those not classed as employed or unemployed according to ILO definitions. The indicator is part of the 'Work and the labour market' domain, intended to provide insight into the local make-up of the labour market and wider economy, and should be interpreted as an area-level descriptor. The economic inactivity rate, together with the unemployment rate and employment rate provide information of the labour market status of all people in the population range. A person's employment status has both an associative and a causal relationship with a range of health outcomes and therefore indicators of these statuses form an important part of understanding wider determinants of health.
The unemployed and the economically inactive represent two distinct categories. Groups comprising the economically inactive include: the long-term sick or disabled, the temporary sick (with no employment), people looking after family/home, students, and retired people. The individual level interventions that may improve the health outcomes of economically inactive people, including helping people back to work where appropriate (a focus of the ‘Improving lives: Work, health and disability’ green paper) are different to those for unemployed people.
The economically inactive population should not be considered as a homogenous group, but on average do have poorer health on a variety of measures (mainly because ill health/disability is a major cause of inactivity). The indicator has a polarity in which high rates of economic inactivity are considered worse than low rates. This should be interpreted at the area level, not the individual level, because there are many reasons for economic inactivity, some of which are positive choices (early retirement, carer of young children etc) and others negative (sickness/disability). Despite the complex relationship between inactivity and health outcomes at an individual level, higher economic inactivity at a local authority or regional level is clearly associated with negative health outcomes (a simple bivariate regression shows variation in economic inactivity rate ‘explains’ around 20% of variation in life expectancy at birth at lower tier LA level). This is because the employment status indicators together provide information about the local economy and the local population’s interaction with it (at a social and environmental level). Taken together these labour market status indicators increase awareness and attention on the relationship between a strong and fair economy and equitable health outcomes.
This indicator is defined as the percentage of the population aged 16-64 years who are economically inactive (i.e. neither in employment nor unemployed according to the ILO definition [not employed, available to start work within two weeks, and actively sought employment within past four weeks]). The percentage in Bury for the year 2023/24 was 27.7%, statistically worse than England average of 21.2%. Examining trend data for Bury, the percentage of economically inactive individuals in Bury has fluctuated over the years. It began at 21.2% in 2011/12, dropped sharply to 15.4% in 2012/13, but then rose again to around 21.5%-25.1% between 2013/14 and 2018/19. A slight decline was observed in 2020/21 (21.7%) and 2021/22 (20.5%), followed by a more notable drop to 16.7% in 2022/23. However, in 2023/24, the rate spiked to 27.7%, marking the highest level in the dataset and suggesting a significant recent increase in economic inactivity. Nationally, England showed a more stable and gradually declining trend. Starting at 23.6% in 2011/12, the rate steadily decreased over the years, reaching 21.4% in 2017/18 and 20.9% in 2020/21. The most recent data shows a continued decline to 20.5% in 2021/22, though the exact figures for 2022/23 and 2023/24 are not fully visible. Overall, England’s trend suggests a slow but consistent reduction in economic inactivity, in contrast to the more variable pattern seen in Bury (Figure 8). Trend data based on the five most recent data points shows no significant change in Bury.
Figure 8: Percentage of the population aged 16-64 years who are economically inactive in Bury and England from 2011/12-2023/24
Bury has the 2nd highest rate of economically inactive adults with the highest rate in Bolton of 27.9% and lowest in Sutton of 16.2%. Data on inequities for Bury are available by sex only. Males in Bury have a rate of 21.8% in the year 2023/24 and females have a rate of 34.2%. Both rates are statistically similar to overall Bury average. Data for England are available by sex only for the year 2023/24. Males in England have a lower rate of economic inactivity 17.1% (statistically better compared to overall England average) and females have a higher rate of economic inactivity of 25.2% (statistically worse compared to England average).
Sickness absence
This indicator is defined as the percentage of employees who had at least one day off due to sickness absence in the previous working week. The percentage in Bury for the period 2021-23 was 2.7%, statistically similar to England average of 2.2%. In Bury, the sickness absence rate showed notable fluctuations over the years. It began at 2.4% in 2013-15, then declined to 1.8% in 2014-16 and further to 1.5% in 2015-17. The rate gradually declined from 2.4% in 2013-15 to 10.7% in 2019-21 with some fluctuations, before increasing to 2.3% in 202-22 and a peak of 2.7% in 2021-23. In England, sickness absence rate declined from 2.2% in 2013-15 to 1.8% in 2019-21, before gradually increasing to 2% in 2020-22 and 2.2% in 2021-23 (Figure 9).
Figure 9: Percentage of employees who had at least one day off due to sickness absence in the previous working week for Bury and England from the year 2013-15 to 2021-23
Bury had the 3rd highest percentage of employees who had at least one day off due to sickness absence in the previous working week, with the highest rate in Trafford of 3.6% and lowest in Rochdale of 0.3%. No data on inequalities are available for Bury. Data at England level are available by deprivation only. The lowest proportion is in the 2nd least deprived decile of 1.8% and highest in the fourth less deprived decile of 2.6%.