The UK economy will lose billions this year because of unpaid carers who are unable to work, a think-tank has warned.
A survey by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found that 41% of unpaid carers are thinking of leaving the workplace or reducing their hours within the next year because they are struggling to hold down a job while caring for a relative.
Meanwhile, 65% of family carers who are not currently in work said they would take up paid employment if they could.
The CSJ calculated that in 2024, the Treasury will lose £2.8bn in benefits payments to working-age carers, while missing out on £3.4bn in taxes and national insurance contributions.
The think-tank recommended that family carers should be supported to work with five days’ paid leave, 10 hours of free home care a week for those they look after, and a higher Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold.
The director of think-tank Phoenix Insights, Catherine Foot, said: ‘Economic inactivity is sitting at near-record highs in the UK, so we can’t overlook unpaid carers if we are going to address the issues in our labour market.
‘An effective strategy must support carers to remain in work for as long as they want or need to and help them navigate the competing demands they face.’
