Overview
- A study published July 22 by the Grantham Research Institute (LSE) and the Euro‑Mediterranean Center on Climate Change estimates the late‑June heatwave caused about 24 million lost work hours and roughly £1.15 billion in lost output.
- The finding is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,950 adults about the week of June 22, which showed an average reduction of 0.47 work hours and that 3.6% of respondents—about 1.25 million workers—did not work at all that week because of the heat.
- Health impacts were widespread: 87% of respondents reported at least one heat‑related symptom, 5% sought medical attention, and around 3% reported a workplace accident they linked to the weather.
- The burden fell heaviest on heat‑exposed, physically demanding jobs such as construction and agriculture and on women, younger workers and people with health conditions, while measures like air conditioning and shifted hours reduced losses but remain unevenly available.
- Authors say the £1.15 billion figure is likely conservative because it omits lower productivity per hour and wider system failures, and they urge stronger workplace protections, regulation and investment in heat adaptation as extremes grow more frequent.