Cancer diagnoses rising earlier in working life

New insight from Unum UK, alongside national cancer data and policy priorities, shows cancer increasingly shaping working life by affecting more people earlier in their careers. As more people live and work alongside cancer, employers are facing longer and more complex periods of absence, placing greater emphasis on how long‑term absence is prioritised and workforce performance is protected.

Cancer incidence is rising across the population, with the fastest growth in new diagnoses among working age adults, according to Cancer Research UK. Improvements in survival also mean more people are living and working with cancer for longer.

Against this backdrop, Unum’s Group Income Protection claims data shows cancer as a growing driver of long‑term absence across the insured workforce, with admitted cancer claims among employees under 40 rising by 36% between 2024 and 2025.

Unum’s claims experience also shows how the profile of cancer‑related absence is changing for employers:

• Cancer remains the leading cause of admitted Group Income Protection claims, with cancer‑related claims rising by 20% since 2022, highlighting a sustained upward trend in claims incidence
• A growing share of cancer‑related absence is arising earlier in working careers, extending the period employers may need to support affected employees
• Advances in treatment and survival are contributing to less predictable recovery journeys, with absence often extending beyond initial treatment
• Employers are increasingly managing cancer as a long‑term condition in the workforce

Among employees under 40, Unum’s claims data shows the most common cancer related claims relate to: Breast (28%), Haematological (23%) and Brain (15%).

This changing landscape is reflected in the National Cancer Plan for England, which prioritises earlier diagnosis, better long‑term outcomes and support for people to live well with cancer beyond treatment.

Paula Coffey, Director of Claims, Rehabilitation and Medical Services at Unum UK, said:

“National data shows cancer is increasingly affecting people during their working lives, and our own claims experience reflects how this is playing out in the workforce. This warrants attention.

While outcomes continue to improve, recovery doesn’t always end when treatment ends. Earlier‑onset cancer can involve longer and less predictable journeys back to work, changing both the duration and complexity of absence-related costs that employers need to manage. 

That’s why Group Income Protection plays an increasingly important role, and why our in‑house claims, clinical and rehabilitation teams work as one from the outset – providing joined-up, long-term support throughout treatment, recovery and return to work.”

As a vanguard of the Keep Britain Working review, Unum is using its claims insight to help employers understand how these wider health trends are affecting the workforce and what they may mean for long‑term absence planning.