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Understanding the Claim of 28 Million Not Working

Recently, a statement made in the House of Commons caught attention: “We have 28 million working people propping up 28 million people not working.” This claim raises questions about the accuracy and context of such figures.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as of early 2025, there are about 34 million people employed in the UK. This number includes both public and private sectors. Meanwhile, recent estimates show that the UK population is around 70 million. Subtracting those in work from this total suggests nearly 36 million people are not formally employed.

However, when we dig deeper, many of these individuals are children under 16 or seniors over state pension age. The ONS estimates that about 18% of the population falls into each of these categories—around 13 million each. This means that if we remove these groups from the total, approximately 10 million working-age individuals (ages 16 to 66) remain who are not engaged in the workforce.

The ONS also reports about 9.2 million people aged 16-64 who are economically inactive—those who aren’t actively looking for work—and an additional 1.6 million who are unemployed. Together, this accounts for about 10.8 million people.

The theory that there are essentially 28 million individuals “not working” likely involves including non-working children and retirees in that total.

Expert Insights

Economist Sarah Johnson notes that while employment issues are complex, presenting them as a binary of workers versus non-workers oversimplifies the landscape. “Many factors contribute to why people aren’t working, including health issues, caregiving responsibilities, or a lack of job opportunities,” she explains.

Current Trends

On social media, discussions around unemployment and economic inactivity are often heated, with many users debating the political implications of such statistics. Hashtags related to job markets and economic policy frequently trend as citizens express their thoughts on the state of employment in the UK.

Conclusion

Understanding the nuances behind the numbers is essential. The claim of "28 million not working" demands a closer examination to differentiate between various demographics and their employment status. The data reveals a more complex picture than implied, urging us to consider the multitude of factors that affect participation in the workforce.

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