[knuththetruth]

I think a more useful question is how is it that developed countries like the US and UK have widespread unemployment, but no shortage of need of this kind of work? Perhaps the economy is massively misaligned in who and what it serves.

[Arnt]

From a quick look the NHS alone appears to employ slightly more health professionals than there are long-term unemployed in the UK, so perhaps the economy is massively misaligned... and perhaps it isn't.

[knuththetruth]

The NHS is well known to be suffering a staff shortage in GPs and other care workers, which will only be worsened in light of the immigration restrictions coming with Brexit.

This of course also ignores that all of the unemployed would never be funneled into healthcare alone, but in other social services and infrastructure work for which there is similar, dire need.