Behind the scenes

Inside the Big Issue: Has Britain stopped working?

We explore how to make work... work

Big Issue edition 1653's cover

Inside the Big Issue: How to make work work

Keir Starmer is determined to Get Britain Working. It is a key plank in his growth strategy. Last autumn the government rolled out their plans. There is a focus on overhauling disability benefits and
improving mental health support. At heart, they say, it is about tackling inactivity and equipping younger people with new skills.

By the latest count, 9.3 million working-age people in the UK are economically inactive, while a further 1.57 million are unemployed; 2.8 million are out of work due to long-term sickness. The drive to slash benefits traces its roots back to this: a desire to get people back into work, and work that pays well. The last time a government made similar noises on this scale, Iain Duncan Smith introduced his universal credit plan in 2010.

Reasons for inactivity are varied. A high percentage of those under 25 listed as not working are students. Among 25- to 49-year-olds, 1.1 million people are not working because they have caring responsibilities. Around a million of them are women. As plans to change mindsets grow there is a problem in the moment. Companies are shedding jobs. Meanwhile, despite a large number of vacancies, graduates
struggle to find work.

How deep does the jobs crisis run? And where will new jobs be found? In this special report, Big Issue investigates whether Britain is working, what’s holding back those who want to work, and how organisations including Big Issue Recruit can deliver solutions.

Read more in this week’s Big Issue.

What else is in this week’s Big Issue?

‘There’s no word to describe your daughter competing in the Olympics, getting a medal. Oh, just talking to you I have tears in my eyes’

Fred Siriex has gone from catering college to First Dates, the jungle to celebrating an Olympic medal in the family. He goes through his life story in this week’s Letter to My Younger Self.

‘The courageous cast and crew of this Iranian film risked everything to tell the story’

The Seed of the Sacred Fig isn’t just a stealthy thriller about a Tehran family ripped apart by ideological differences. It’s also a remarkable act of bravery from director Mohammad Rossoulof, his cast and crew. We hear from Rassoulof about the story behind the award-tipped film.

The future looks grim under climate change. So why is nobody talking about Just Stop Oil any more?

After dominating headlines, climate activists seem to have fallen off the agenda. Data shows MPs have almost completely stopped discussing Just Stop Oil. What’s behind it? We explore where the protesters have gone – and if the ground is fertile for a climate uprising in 2025.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

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