It is worrying to see an upward trend in redundancies, coupled with the long-term decline in vacancies and rising unemployment. The potential challenge this poses to people looking for work is all the greater for those with health problems. It remains to be seen whether the measures announced in the Government's Pathways to Work Green Paper will be able to support the 2.8 million people who are economically inactive due to long-term health problems into work in the context of a contracting labour market.