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Tesco CEO Warns of UK’s ‘Quiet Epidemic’ of Joblessness

2/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ashwin Prasad, CEO of Tesco, warned of a "quiet epidemic" of joblessness in the UK, with unemployment at 5.1%, a four-year high.
More than 9 million people aged 16–64 are economically inactive, including a million young people not in education or employment.
Prasad called for government and business collaboration and bold changes.
He criticized rising out-of-work benefits expenditure and urged focus on getting more people into jobs.

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Story summary

Ashwin Prasad, CEO of Tesco, warned of a "quiet epidemic" of joblessness in the UK, with unemployment at 5.1%, a four-year high.
More than 9 million people aged 16–64 are economically inactive, including a million young people not in education or employment.
Prasad called for government and business collaboration and bold changes.
He criticized rising out-of-work benefits expenditure and urged focus on getting more people into jobs.