Exodus of more than half a million from workforce ‘puts UK economy at risk’

Loss of employees since Covid raises fears of weaker growth and higher inflation, says Lords report

An exodus of more than half a million people from the British workforce since the Covid pandemic is putting the economy at risk of weaker growth and persistently higher inflation, a Lords report has warned.

The House of Lords economic affairs committee said the sharp rise in economic inactivity – when working-age adults are neither in employment nor looking for a job – since the onset of the health emergency was posing “serious challenges” to the economy.