Britain has clearly found a solution to the global unemployment crisis. It’s a weight loss shot.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said drugs like Ozempic and Wegoby “could become very important” to the country’s struggling economy.
“This drug is extremely useful for people who want and need to lose weight, and it’s really important for the economy so people can get back to work,” the Labor leader said. BBC.
His comments follow Health Secretary Wes Streeting wrote: Telegraph opinion article that “‘Waistband widening’ is a ‘hindrance to the economy’, weight loss injections could help unemployed people recover work.
“Obesity-related illnesses cause people to take an average of four extra sick days a year, while many are forced to quit their jobs altogether,” he explained.
“The long-term benefits of these drugs could be huge in our approach to tackling obesity. For many people, these weight loss effects will be life-changing, allowing them to return to work and help the NHS. It helps reduce the burden.”
Their comments came as the government announced a 3,000-participant five-year trial of weight loss drug Munjaro, also known as tirzepatide.
Health Innovation Manchester and Munjaro’s maker, Lilly, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, say use of the drug can actually reduce unemployment rates, as well as use of public health services and obesity-related complications. We plan to investigate whether this is the case.
11 million Brits are currently unemployed
Millions of people around the world are currently unemployed. In the UK alone, around a quarter of the working-age population, around 11 million people, are currently out of work.
According to the International Labor Organization, approximately 402 million people I’m unemployed now, but I want to work.
It’s not clear what percentage of unemployed people are kept out of work because of obesity-related illnesses, but the government says it only accounts for four more sick days a year., On average.
It is also unclear how Mr Starmer and Mr Streeting believe that people who are in good health but are overweight can benefit from weight loss. Both offices declined. luckseeks comment on whether leaner job applicants face less bias in interviews or are better able to cope with intense workloads.
Other issues faced
But whether or not unemployed people can afford Ozempic, there are other factors they must contend with. For example, there is a lack of jobs available in the first phase.
For example, a recent report from Korn Ferry blames the rise in “unemployment” on a “perfect storm” of job displacement by AI and economic uncertainty.
The report highlights that although inflation is calming, bosses are not reinstating roles cut during the pandemic because they expect AI to make their employees more efficient.
Case in point: Cisco, Microsoft, and Intuit all recently refers to automation This is to justify the mass culling of the workforce.
Many newcomers to Gen Z, or even NEETs, have already given up on finding a job in the current climate.