The number of people living and working with cancer in the UK is rising significantly and will continue to do so in the future. Currently there are 560,000 people with cancer in the UK workforce, equal to 1.5% of the total, but this is estimated to rise to over 1 million, or 3.3% of the workforce, by 2030. Many people with cancer want to and are able to continue working but lack of support for both employees and employers can prevent this. Providing better support could allow an additional 63,000-136,000 people with cancer to remain in or return to employment.

1. CAN WORK: WILL WORK Valuing the contribution and understanding
the needs of people living with cancer in the workplace
More and more of us are being affected by cancer in some way, whether directly as a patient or indirectly through a family member, friend or colleague with cancer. The number of
people living with cancer in the uk is on the increase as prevalence rates rise and medical science improves – meaning earlier detection and better targeted treatment. Many people now recover
and go on to live well with cancer. This infographic, based on new research, shows for the first time the scale of the issue today and in the future. Employees with cancer contribute a substantial
amount to the uk economy and this will rise significantly by 2030. However, people with cancer who want to work are encountering barriers in the workplace because the right support is not
available for them or their employers. Maggie’s and unum are working together to address this and provide support.
It is estimated
that 4 million
people will have
cancer in the UK
More than 1.1 million
people are likely to
have cancer in the
workforce, equal to
3.3% of the total
UK workforce
136,000 people living or surviving cancer who want to
and are able to work, could be held back through lack
of support for employers and employees
It is estimated that
2 million people currently
have cancer in the UK
Today there are
560,000 people
with cancer in
the workforce,
equal to 1.5% of
the total UK
workforce
Source: Oxford Economics, 2012
A GROWING ISSUE
TODAY 2030
2
million
4
million
63,000 people living with or surviving cancer want to and
are able to work, but are being held back through lack
of support for both employers and employees
£16
billion
£29
billion
www.maggiescentres.org/workingaftercancer
63,000
Because everyone
needs a back-up plan
Their contribution to the
UK economy could be as
much as 3.5 billion
These people contribute
16 billion to the UK
economy each year, more
than the UK
house-building
industry
At today’s prices
these people will
contribute
29 billion
to the UK
economy
each year
Their contribution to the
UK economy could be as
much as 1.8 billion
163,000
560,000
1.5%
1,100,000
3.3%