General Debate on the impact of Long Covid on the UK Workforce

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that 1.5 million people in the UK (2.4% of the population) were experiencing long Covid as of the end of January. This is based on self-reporting of Covid symptoms persisting for over four weeks.

71% of those reporting long Covid first had (or suspected they had) Covid-19 at least twelve weeks prior to the study. 65% of those reporting long Covid said that it adversely affected their day-to-day activities.

Fatigue is the most common reported symptom of long Covid (reported in 51% of cases), followed by shortness of breath (35%).

Reported long Covid was most common in those aged 35-49, females, people living in more deprived areas, those employed in education or health and social care, and people who already had another health condition or disability that limits their day-to-day activities.

In July 2021, the ONS published analysis of the impacts of long Covid on adults in Great Britain, including analysis of how it had impacted on their work.

40% of those who said they were experiencing long Covid reported that it was negatively affecting their work, although this proportion differed for different groups of people:

• There was a higher proportion of people aged 30-49 who reported long Covid was negatively affecting their work than for other age groups. 51% of 30-49 year olds reported this was the case, compared to 32% of 16-29 year olds and 38% of 50-69 year olds.
• 45% of men with long Covid reported it was negatively affecting their work compared to 36% of women.
• 48% of disabled people with long Covid reported it was negatively affecting their work compared to 35% of people who are not disabled.