Improving health and well-being outcomes for all will increase employment and productivity across the UK economy, and reduce child poverty and poverty later in life. Similarly, increasing employment and opportunity of good, fair employment will have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of the population both for current and future generations.

2020 was an unprecedented year and while the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, it has also resulted in a global economic crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the UK economy and 2020 resulted in the largest recession on record for the UK. This, in turn, has had a significant impact on the labour market. Employment rates have decreased all over the UK and are expected to further decrease in 2021 when the Government’s financial support schemes are due to end. The economic recovery process will need to focus on creating employment. To ensure the best possible jobs recovery from COVID-19 and the recession it has caused, both quantity and quality of jobs will need to be considered to ensure good health and wellbeing outcomes of both current and future generations.

Graph below illustrates employment rate, (percentage of those aged 16-64)
Source: Key Economic Statistics, 2021, Key Economic Statistics, January 2021 (gov.wales)