In 2022 the sickness absense rate of the United Kingdom was 2.6 percent, indicating that 2.6 percent of working hours in the UK were lost to sickness during that year. Prior to 2021, the sickness absence rate in the UK had been gradually declining, with 2019 reporting the lowest rate, and 1995 having the highest rate at 3.1 percent.
Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022
Characteristic
Sickness absence rate
2022
2.6%
2021
2.2%
2020
1.8%
2019
1.9%
2018
2%
2017
1.9%
2016
2%
2015
2%
2014
2%
2013
2%
2012
2.1%
2011
2.1%
2010
2.2%
2009
2.3%
2008
2.4%
2007
2.5%
2006
2.5%
2005
2.5%
2004
2.7%
2003
2.8%
2002
2.8%
2001
2.8%
2000
2.9%
1999
3%
1998
2.9%
1997
3%
1996
2.9%
1995
3.1%
Zoomable Statistic: Select the range in the chart you want to zoom in on.
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,
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). Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 04, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022." Chart. April 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 04, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2023). Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 04, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Percentage of Working Hours That Were Lost Due to Sickness Absence in The United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/ (last visited October 04, 2024)
Percentage of working hours that were lost due to sickness absence in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2022 [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), April 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/290196/uk-sickness-absence-rate/