Lord Rose urges government action on rising long-term sickness claims

  • Asda chair Lord Rose urges government to reform benefits system
  • 2.8m people of working age claim long-term sickness, up from 2.2m pre-pandemic
  • Rose: Benefit system needs balance for those in need and able contributors
  • Worklessness crisis could take ‘decade or two’ to address
  • Education and skills needed for future workplaces

Asda chair Lord Rose has called for the government to reform the benefits system, citing concerns over the increasing number of people claiming long-term sickness as a reason for worklessness. The Office for National Statistics reports that 2.8 million working-age individuals now claim long-term sickness, up from 2.2 million before the pandemic. Rose emphasized the need to balance support for those in need with encouraging able contributors to join the workforce. He also highlighted the importance of education and skills development for future workplaces. The Asda chair believes addressing this crisis could take a decade or two.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article presents factual information about Lord Rose’s views on reforming the benefits system and addresses concerns regarding worklessness after the pandemic. It also includes relevant quotes from him and references to statistics from the Office for National Statistics. However, it contains some opinionated language and personal anecdotes that may be seen as tangential to the main topic.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides some relevant information about Lord Rose’s comments on the benefits system and the labor market but lacks a comprehensive analysis or solutions to address the issue. It also includes an unrelated mention of Aldi’s growth in the UK.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The article discusses the impact of long-term sickness benefits on the labor market and productivity, which can affect companies’ profitability and overall economic growth.
Financial Rating Justification: The article touches upon the topic of unemployment and productivity in relation to the benefits system, which can have a significant impact on businesses and the economy. It mentions concerns about the state of the labor market and the need for workforce education and skills development.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.

Reported publicly: www.retailgazette.co.uk