The average number of sick days taken per worker in the United Kingdom was 5.7 in 2022, compared with 4.6 in the previous year. Average sick days taken in 2022 were the highest they have been since 2005, but still lower than the average of 7.2 days taken in 1995.
Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022
*Because of the COVID-19 pandemic a high number of people in employment were on furlough (away from work which they expect to return to) during 2020 which has impacted some of the measures of sickness absence; some of the falls seen in 2020 will be because there were fewer people in work,
A day is defined as 7.5 hours.
The number of days lost through sickness absence is calculated for all people in employment aged 16 and over.
Quarterly datasets were used to generate annual averages
The average number of days lost to sickness per worker is calculated by dividing the total number of days lost to sickness by the total number of people aged 16 and over in employment.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Office for National Statistics (UK). (April 26, 2023). Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022." Chart. April 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2023). Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Average Number of Days Lost through Sickness Absence per Worker in a Year in The United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/ (last visited July 27, 2024)
Average number of days lost through sickness absence per worker in a year in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), April 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/290209/uk-average-annual-sick-days-per-worker/
