The June heatwave in the United Kingdom cost the economy an estimated €1.35 billion through lost productivity, according to research published by the London School of Economics (LSE).
The study found that around 24 million working hours were lost during the week beginning 22 June, when large parts of Europe, including the UK and France, experienced exceptionally high temperatures.
Researchers from the Grantham Research Institute at LSE and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) surveyed 1,950 adults across the UK to assess the impact of the heatwave on work, health and daily life.
Outdoor workers hardest hit
According to the study, workers in sectors with greater exposure to high temperatures and physically demanding conditions, such as construction and agriculture, reduced their working hours more than people employed in less physically intensive occupations.
On average, respondents reported working 0.47 fewer hours during the week because of the heat.
In addition, 3.6% of respondents, equivalent to around 1.25 million workers nationwide, said they did not work at all during that week due to the extreme temperatures.
Health impacts widespread
The survey found that 87% of workers experienced at least one health-related effect from the heatwave.
Reported problems included:
- Sleep disruption
- Increased fatigue at work
- Dizziness
- Fainting episodes
- Heart palpitations
Call for greater preparedness
Elizabeth Robinson, director of the Grantham Research Institute, said the UK remains insufficiently prepared for the effects of climate change.
She called on the government to take action to make workplaces safer and more resilient during periods of extreme heat.
The findings add to growing concerns about the economic and health impacts of increasingly frequent heatwaves across Europe.
