TBH Mr Mincepie, the number of people 'economically inactive' (in other words, without paid employment,) is far far higher than the two point something million the gonks at Westminster would have us believe it is. There's the people on incapacity benefit (about 2 million, possibly more,) the stay at home single mums on benefit, (and mums/wives who aren't on benefits but don't do paid employment,) and of course the NEET generation: (youngsters who are Not in Education, Employment or Training) As WELL as the people 'on the dole...'
I remember reading somewhere a while back, that the amount of people who are not in employment - who probably 'could' work (but not including pensionsers or children or severely disabled,) is more like 8 million... possibly more... so the actual amount of unemployed people is quite horrendous, but then again, what are people supposed to do if there are no jobs, and most of the few jobs that
are there, pay less than benefits would give you.
Makes you proud to be British doesn't it? No worries though, it'll only take about 10 years to recover from this.