The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform is delighted to announce the launch of the SIP Joint Statement on Employment and the Economic Considerations of Pain. Developed collaboratively by eight professional and patient organisations working in the field of pain and pain-related conditions, the statement underscores chronic pain as a major driver of reduced workplace productivity and calls on EU and national policymakers to integrate chronic pain management into upcoming labour and health frameworks.
Affecting roughly 150 million people—one in five Europeans—chronic pain is a leading cause of disability across Europe. The joint statement highlights that chronic pain costs EU economies between 3% and 10% of annual GDP. A significant portion of this economic toll stems from indirect costs, including work absenteeism, presenteeism, and early retirement. Moderate-to-severe pain can reduce the probability of full-time employment by up to 20 percentage points, creating significant challenges for a European labour market already grappling with structural labour shortages and an ageing population.
The publication presents eight core policy recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges. Key calls to action include incorporating chronic pain into national Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) strategies, strengthening workplace prevention within the upcoming EU Quality Jobs Act, ensuring early access to multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation, and providing financial and return-to-work support for affected employees.
By aligning pain management with EU priorities on economic resilience, competitiveness, and social inclusion, the SIP Platform urges policymakers to treat chronic pain not only as a public health priority, but also as a critical economic imperative.
Read the full Joint Statement here.