UK working days lost to sickness absence by reason 2022

In 2022, 23.9 percent of working days lost due to sickness absence were due to minor illnesses, with a further 12.6 percent being due to musculoskeletal problems. Mental health conditions accounted for 10 percent of working absences, while a quarter of days lost were due to other conditions not specified.

Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason

Characteristic	Minor illnesses	Musculoskeletal problems	Other	Mental health conditions	Gastrointestinal problems	Respiratory conditions	Eye/ear/nose/mouth/dental problems	Genito-urinary problems	Heart, blood pressure, circulation problems	Headaches and migraines	Prefers not to give details
2009	29%	26.7%	13.5%	9%	5%	4.5%	2.9%	1.5%	1.9%	2.9%	2.9%
2010	25.1%	28.4%	11.3%	9.3%	7.8%	5.9%	1.9%	2.6%	2.2%	2.5%	3.1%
2011	21.2%	26.8%	14%	10.8%	7.9%	4.1%	2.8%	3.7%	3.3%	1.2%	4.3%
2012	19.3%	25.1%	16.1%	11.8%	6.6%	3.3%	3%	3.1%	4.3%	1.1%	6.4%
2013	20.9%	23.2%	16.6%	12.2%	6.6%	4.4%	3.9%	2.4%	3.8%	1.4%	4.5%
2014	17.9%	26.6%	17.8%	11%	6.4%	5%	3.4%	2.4%	4.1%	1.3%	4.1%
2015	22.4%	23.6%	15.3%	12.7%	6.6%	3.9%	3.2%	2.8%	2.7%	2%	4.8%
2016	24.7%	22.4%	15.3%	11.5%	6.5%	3.9%	3.6%	3.1%	2.3%	2.1%	4.7%
2017	26.1%	21.5%	15.4%	11.4%	6.3%	2.8%	4.2%	2.2%	2.5%	1.7%	5.8%
2018	27.2%	19.7%	13.7%	12.4%	6.1%	2.8%	3.7%	2.9%	3.4%	3.3%	4.9%
2019	22.9%	20.6%	14.5%	14.5%	6.3%	4%	3.6%	2.6%	4.1%	2.1%	4.8%
2020	21.9%	17.7%	19.8%	13.4%	5.5%	5.5%	2.7%	1.7%	3.1%	3%	5.8%
2021	16.5%	15.6%	27.8%	12%	5.3%	6.7%	3%	2.1%	3.4%	2.6%	4.9%
2022	23.9%	12.6%	25.9%	10%	5.1%	8.7%	2%	1.6%	2.7%	2.3%	5.1%

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Release date

April 2023

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2009-2022

Age group

16 years and older

Supplementary notes

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,
Musculoskeletal problems' includes back pain, neck and upper limb problems and other musculoskeletal problems
Other' includes the total number of days lost to diabetes as well as days lost to accidents, poisonings, infectious diseases, skin disorders and anything else not covered.

Sickness absence rates do not account for the total length of absence because the Labour Force Survey can only measure up to seven days off work during the interviewee’s reference week.

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