Sickness Absence Rates by Industry
How many days do workers take off sick in your sector? Which industries face the highest absence burden? And what does the SSP reform mean for your payroll from April 2026?
4.4
National avg days lost/worker
£568-£643
Avg cost per employee per year
8.9
Days lost: Public
3.6
Days lost: Professional
Key findings
Highest absence rate
Public administration and defence
8.9 days per worker. Short-term: 5.1d, long-term: 3.8d.
Top cause of absence
Minor illness (colds, flu etc.)
30% of all absence days. Mental health accounts for a further 9.8%.
SSP reform: April 2026
Day one SSP now in effect
The 3-day waiting period is removed. Every sickness day triggers SSP from the first day of absence.
Days lost per worker by sector
Estimated working days lost per employee per year due to sickness absence
Causes of absence
Share of all absence days by underlying cause
Estimate your absence cost
Select your sector and headcount to see estimated annual absence costs
Estimate your absence cost
220
Estimated days lost per year
£59,796
Estimated total annual cost
True cost applies a 1.8x multiplier to direct salary cost, reflecting management time, temporary cover, reduced productivity and HR involvement. Based on CIPD estimates.
SSP is now payable from day one of absence
The Employment Rights Act 2025 removed the three-day waiting period for Statutory Sick Pay from April 6, 2026. Employees who earn above the lower earnings threshold (previously a qualifying condition) are also now eligible from their first day of employment.
What changes
SSP payable from day 1 at £123.25 per week. Previously days 1-3 were unpaid waiting days. No lower earnings threshold to qualify.
Who is most affected
High-absence sectors: public admin, health and social care, education and transport face the biggest cost increase per employee.
What to do
Update your sickness absence policy, payroll records and self-certification procedure. Review your absence trigger points and return-to-work process.
Read the full SSP guide
Everything you need to know about Statutory Sick Pay from April 2026 and what it means for your business.
Methodology and sources
ONS Sickness Absence in the UK Labour Market: 2024; CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work 2025; HMRC guidance on SSP rates 2026-27. Last updated April 2026. Sector estimates based on ONS sickness absence rates applied to average working days. Full breakdown: ONS Sickness Absence in the UK Labour Market 2024. Public sector and health/social work have the highest absence rates at 2.9% of hours (ONS 2024). Private sector overall: 1.8%. Civil servants: 8.2 average working days lost (year to March 2025). Last updated: 2026-04-10.
Sources: ONS Sickness Absence Statistics | CIPD Health and Wellbeing Report