Lonely people are more likely to be unemployed in the future, study finds

Experts call for ‘greater recognition of the wider societal impacts of loneliness in the working age population’

Nearly half of adults in England feel occasionally, sometimes or often lonely (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

People who report frequently feeling lonely are more likely to experience unemployment in the future, according to a new study.

Loneliness in adults increases the likelihood of being unemployed up to three years later by 17.5 per cent, researchers at the universities of Exeter and Leeds have found.

Experts said the findings suggest a need for “greater recognition of the wider societal impacts of loneliness in the working age population”.