ACCORDING to new Public Health Wales findings, ill-health and disability that prevents people from working costs approximately £19.4 billion a year in Wales.

Ciarán Humphreys, Consultant in Wider Determinants, said: “In Wales, many people spend more of their lives in poor health, because the building blocks we need to keep us healthy, such as decent housing or good, fair work, can be weak or absent. We have seen a rise in people out of work in recent years relating to ill-health, especially mental health among younger people, and musculoskeletal problems in older ages.

People with health conditions are more likely to enter work with early, tailored support, and to stay in work with engaged, flexible, supportive employers.”