<p>The department monitors trends in economic inactivity and works closely with other departments and organisations to understand the relationship between health and economic inactivity.</p><p> </p><p>There are a number of factors that could be contributing to a rise in economic inactivity, such as changes in <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/economicinactivity/articles/populationchangesandeconomicinactivitytrendsuk2019to2026/2023-03-03#:~:text=Projecting%20economic%20inactivity%20volumes%20to%202026,-Our%20population%20projections&text=Continuing%20the%20trend%20seen%20between,410%2C000%20between%202022%20and%202026." target="_blank">population demographics</a> and the <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/economicinactivity/articles/healthdemographicandlabourmarketinfluencesoneconomicinactivityuk2019to2022/2023-05-19" target="_blank">prevalence of work-limiting health conditions</a>, as well as NHS waiting times. However, these factors are complex and may interact with one another and further work is required to establish whether, and to what extent, there is a relationship between the growth in NHS waiting lists and long-term sickness in the labour market.</p>