Research: Twentysomethings More Prone to Unemployment Due to Health Issues Than 40-Year-Olds

A recent report sheds light on a concerning trend: young adults in their early twenties are more likely to be unemployed due to ill health compared to their counterparts in their forties.

The findings, outlined in a study commissioned by the Resolution Foundation and funded by the Health Foundation, prompted calls for an urgent need for action to address Britain's escalating mental health crisis.

Youth Mental Health Links to Education, Employment

(Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

The research indicates that individuals in their early twenties grappling with mental health issues may encounter barriers to obtaining a stable education and, consequently, find themselves either unemployed or relegated to low-paying jobs.

The report highlights the correlation between educational attainment and mental health-related unemployment.

It found that a staggering 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds unable to work due to ill health possess qualifications at GCSE level or below, in contrast to 34% of all individuals in this age group.

Moreover, it highlighted that 12% of 11 to 16-year-olds experiencing poor mental health were absent for more than 15 days during the autumn term of 2023, contrasting with just one in 50 of their healthier peers.

Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, stressed the significant economic ramifications of poor mental health among young adults who do not pursue higher education, emphasizing that one in three young individuals without a university degree and experiencing common mental disorders are "currently workless."

"Attention on this issue has tended to focus on higher education. But what should most worry us is when poor mental health comes together with poor education outcomes," she said.

"To address this mental health crisis, we need better support services in currently underserved colleges, and much better provision for those resitting exams so that everyone has qualifications to build on," she added.

Young Adult Mental Health Crisis

The study reveals a substantial increase in the prevalence of mental health disorders among young adults.

Official data indicates that in 2021-22, 34% of individuals aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder-a notable rise from the 2000 figure of 24%.

Moreover, young women are disproportionately affected, being one-and-a-half times more likely to experience poor mental health than their male counterparts.

Jo Bibby, director of health at the Health Foundation, emphasized the crucial role of policymakers in addressing the underlying factors contributing to poor mental health outcomes.

"Policymakers need to focus on the building blocks of health, such as good employment and education, to ensure young people get the support they need," she stressed, warning of the potential consequences of inaction, including the creation of a "lost generation" plagued by ill health.

The report calls for comprehensive, cross-government action to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by poor mental health among young adults. It advocates for enhanced mental health support services in colleges and sixth forms, alongside initiatives aimed at raising educational attainment levels among young people.

As the findings underscore the severity of the mental health crisis facing young adults, urgent and concerted efforts are needed to address the root causes and mitigate its impact on individuals and society as a whole.