More than two in five Copeland residents were economically inactive in 2021, new census figures show.
The Resolution Foundation said rising numbers of people in economic inactivity must be addressed as Treasurer Jeremy Hunt aimed to get people back to work with his Spring Budget this week.
Census figures from the Office for National Statistics show 24,065 residents in Copeland were economically inactive between March 15 and 22 2021.
An economically inactive person is aged 16 and over and did not have a job in that time period, could not start work in the next two weeks, or had not looked for work in the month before.
It meant 43% of over-16s in the area were economically inactive.
Louise Murphy, economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: "Levels of inactivity vary significantly across the UK, and tend to be highest in places where the population is older, and where long-term illness is widespread, such as deprived, ex-industrial areas.
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