For the first time, more than 2.5 million people in the UK are out of work because of a long-term health problem. The number has jumped by half a million since the start of the pandemic – but, BBC News analysis reveals, the impact is spread unevenly across the country, with some regions and types of job far more affected.
![The puzzle of UK’s half a million missing workers 1 The puzzle of UK’s half a million missing workers](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/8857/production/_127630943_maryscreengrab_1.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)