Health and work: glossary of terms
Updated 8 January 2021
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Economic inactivity
People not in employment who have not been seeking work within the last 4 weeks or are unable to start work within the next 2 weeks. (Office for National Statistics)
Employment
People aged 16 and over who did paid work (as an employee or self-employed). (Office for National Statistics)
Employment rate
Employment rate is calculated by dividing the employment level for those aged from 16 to 64 by the population for that age group. (Office for National Statistics)
Unemployed people
Those who are not working but were looking for work in the past 4 weeks or are waiting to start a job in the next 2 weeks. (Office for National Statistics)
Worklessness
Refers to a state where an individual or no one in a household aged 16 and over are in employment, either through unemployment or economic inactivity. (Office for National Statistics)
Leavism
People working outside contracted hours, using allocated time off such as annual leave to work or when unwell. (CIPD, 2018)
Long-term health condition
Any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more. (NICE, 2015)
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions
A broad range of health conditions affecting bones, joints and muscles, pain syndromes and rarer conditions of the immune system (Public Health England. Musculoskeletal health: 5 year prevention strategic framework (2019))
Disability
To define disability in this publication we refer to the Government Statistical Service (GSS) harmonised ‘core’ definition: this identifies ‘disabled’ as a person who has a physical or mental health condition or illness that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or more, that reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. (Office for National Statistics)
Mental Health
A state of mental and psychological wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, and can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health is determined by a range of socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors. (World Health Organisation, 2018)