Just one in 10 jobless people on benefits must show they are trying to find work, a new report has found.

New Labour grandee Alan Milburn’s research, which looked at Barnsley and South Yorkshire, found that over eight in 10 economically inactive people in the region received some form of state benefits.

But only one in 10 must show they are actively seeking work before receiving financial support.

Mr Milburn is calling for it to be made an obligation for people who are well enough to engage in finding a job.

The chair of the Pathways to Work Commission said: “Britain has to expand our skilled workforce if we are to become more globally competitive.

“We have to double down on getting more people out of economic inactivity back into work.

“That requires radical reform of the welfare system. It needs to help more people into jobs with services attuned to their needs.

“Equally if you are getting benefits and could work you should have to engage with those services. Government can help but people need to help themselves.”

Mr Milburn, who was health secretary under Sir Tony Blair, will launch his report tomorrow.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to attend in a sign that Sir Keir Starmer’s ministers are interested in his findings.

It comes as a record 2.8 million people are on incapacity benefit, up from 2.1 million before the Covid pandemic.

The number is forecast to rise which would mean billions more in welfare spending.