1 in 5 people of working age is economically inactive - worst figure since 1971

[sasguru]

Full report here:

Jobless total hits 16-year high - Yahoo! News UK

So 20% of people who would otherwise work are not working.
If the remaining 80% in work improved productivity to German levels, perhaps another 10-20% people would not be needed.

So that shows you roughly how big the UK economic pie is - rougly enough to support only 60-70% of the population by a rough estimate.

[Sysman]

Add another ~18% working for the state - see this thread from yesterday

so, nearly 40% are supported by the rest.

[expat]

Add another ~18% working for the state - see this thread from yesterday

so, nearly 40% are supported by the rest.

People often say such things as if the public sector are parasites. They are not, they are our employees, there to do things that we want done. Whether there are too many of them, or they are doing the wrong things, are other questions, not in the least answered this way.

Might as well say that the office canteen staff are supported by the rest: in a sense they are, but that is not a reason to get rid of them.

[Sysman]

People often say such things as if the public sector are parasites. They are not, they are our employees, there to do things that we want done. Whether there are too many of them, or they are doing the wrong things, are other questions, not in the least answered this way.

Might as well say that the office canteen staff are supported by the rest: in a sense they are, but that is not a reason to get rid of them.

Not what I said. The fact is that they do have to be supported by the rest of us, and there is surely a limit on the percentage "the earners" can support.

[minestrone]

Don't worry, the 'fit note' will sort that all out.

( where the hell is the roll eyes smilie? )