The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest figures on sickness absence rates of workers in the UK for 2025.
The data reveals that the sickness absence rate – which is the percentage of working hours lost to sickness or injury – was 2% in 2025. An estimated 148.8 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury last year; an average of 4.4 days per worker.
The most common reasons for sickness absence in 2025 were minor illnesses (30.4%), “other” conditions (15.6%), musculoskeletal problems (14.6%), mental health conditions (8.9%) and gastrointestinal problems (6.6%). "Other" includes coronavirus (COVID-19), accidents, poisonings, infectious diseases, skin disorders and diabetes.
The groups with the highest rates of sickness absence in 2025 included:
- women
- older workers
- those with long-term health conditions
- people working part-time
- public sector workers
- people working in process, plant and machine operatives occupations.
Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, government reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) came into force from 6 April 2026, making SSP payable to all workers from the first full day of absence at a rate of either 80% of average weekly earnings or the flat rate, whichever is lower.
