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
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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Office for National Statistics (UK). (April 26, 2023). Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason." Chart. April 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2023). Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Percentage of Days Lost through Sickness Absence in The United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by Reason." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Percentage of days lost through sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2022, by reason [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), April 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/290223/uk-working-days-lost-to-sickness-absence-by-reason/