The persistence of hidden unemployment among incapacity claimants in large parts of Britain

Across Britain as a whole, the number of non-employed adults working age in receipt incapacity-related benefits substantially exceeds claiming unemployment benefits. This article explores extent to which large incapacity claimants hides unemployment. Building on previous methods and evidence but deploying an updated methodology adjust for underlying differences health, finds that who might have been expected work genuinely fully-employed economy remains substantial, though somewhat lower than early 2000s. It also this hidden is disproportionately concentrated weaker local economies Britain’s older industrial areas coastal towns. The benefit claims are legitimate it argued, scale location casts doubt assumptions contemporary UK operating close full employment.