Economic inactivity (EI) remains a significant challenge across the UK, with large numbers of people excluded from the labour market. In Wales, these challenges are compounded by higher rates of disability and a larger disability employment gap than the UK average.
To address these high rates of exclusion from the labour market, the 2021 – 2026 Welsh Government launched Economic Inactivity Trailblazer pilots in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire and Neath Port Talbot in April 2025. These locally designed initiatives prioritise supporting people who are not in work or actively seeking work due to disability, health conditions or caring responsibilities through a person-centred, place-based, multi-agency approach (Welsh Government, 2025).
WCPP was asked to support the delivery of the Trailblazers by convening expertise on successful multi-agency approaches to tackling economic inactivity. In January 2026, we convened two roundtables with stakeholders and experts from Wales and across the UK, including academics, Welsh Government officials, Trailblazer representatives, policy experts and practitioners.
The purpose of these roundtables was to help the Welsh Government and the Trailblazers to understand:
- What are the key features of successful local multi-agency approaches to reducing economic inactivity?
- What key lessons can be drawn from existing place-based, multi-agency partnerships to reduce economic inactivity?
Our report, Addressing complex barriers to work: multi-agency, place-based solutions, summarises the key messages and reflections that emerged during the roundtables:
- Economic inactivity is often a multi-dimensional issue, with individuals typically facing four to six barriers, including health, personal circumstances, and wider structural factors.
- Addressing economic inactivity requires a coordinated, multi-agency approach involving joined-up working between partners with complementary expertise, including local authorities, health boards, and third-sector organisations.
- A key feature of successful partnerships is the presence of a lead agency that provides coordination and strategic oversight.
- A person-centred approach is critical to addressing barriers to work effectively. Tailored one-to-one support can help identify individual needs and challenges, while providing a single point of contact for accessing wraparound services.
The roundtables also identified common challenges faced by multi-agency approaches and how these can be overcome:
- Data-sharing challenges can limit the effectiveness of multi-agency partnerships. Challenges often arise from real or perceived concerns about sharing information securely. To overcome them, organisations need a clear, shared purpose for data sharing, supported by formal protocols and shared systems.
- Multi-agency efforts to address economic inactivity are often constrained by short-term funding. Building strong partnerships and trust requires sustained investment. Short-term funding arrangements can limit scope for person-centred support and create workforce challenges, making it harder to retain experienced staff. Roundtable participants called for longer-term funding to support effective collaboration and lasting outcomes.
These insights will inform the delivery of the Welsh Economic Inactivity Trailblazers in 2026/27.
