Sickness absence, Q2 2012

Last quarter’s decrease was mainly due to a decline in self-certified sickness absence, both among men and women.

Sickness absence adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations has dropped every quarter since the 1st quarter of 2011. The sickness absence rate has decreased by 11.8 per cent since the 2nd quarter of 2001, which is when the agreement on an inclusive labour market was implemented.

Seasonally-adjusted statistics for the first time

This is the first time Statistics Norway has published sickness absence rates adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations. Such adjustments make it easier to spot the underlying trend from quarter to quarter by removing typical seasonal variations between the quarters. In addition, we adjust for the presence of influenza in the population, which varies from year to year.

Statistics without seasonal and influenza adjustment

Since the following comments in this article are based on data that is not adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations, we look at changes over the past year, from the 2nd quarter of 2011 to the 2nd quarter of 2012.

Sickness absence rates decreased from 6.5 to 6.0 per cent between the 2nd quarter of 2011 and the 2nd quarter of 2012. This translates to a 7.6 per cent reduction.

Biggest drop in sickness absence among men

Sickness absence among men has fallen from 5.0 to 4.5 per cent in the last year, while sickness absence among women has declined from 8.3 per cent to 7.8 per cent. This corresponds to a decrease of 9.0 and 6.1 per cent respectively.

Decrease in the construction industry

Among the major industries, the construction industry and the administration and support services industry were the industries with the biggest decreases, with 11.4 and 11.1 per cent respectively.

Reduction in the private sector

The sickness absence rate in all sectors went down last year. The private sector had the biggest reduction with 8.6 per cent. Sickness absence in public administration, including health enterprises, dropped 8.3 per cent, while absence in local government decreased by 4.3 per cent.

Decrease in all age groups

The doctor-certified absence fell in all age groups below 66 years. The strongest reductions were within the age groups 20-24 and 55-59 years, by 9.0 and 8.7 per cent respectively.

Among men, the strongest decline was in the age group 35-39 years, by 13.3 per cent. Among women, the strongest reduction was in the age group 55-59 years, by 8.2 per cent.

These results are based on data on sickness absence certified by a doctor, as the survey on self-certified absence does not contain data on sickness absence by age.

Tables

Sickness absence man-days for employees in per cent of scheduled man-days. Seasonal- and influenza adjusted

• Table 35 Sickness absence man-days for employees aged 16-69 in per cent of scheduled man-days, by type of certification. Seasonal- and influenza adjusted. Quarterly figures and change in per cent from previous quarter
• Table 36 Sickness absence man-days for employees aged 16-69 in per cent of scheduled man-days, by sex and type of certification. Seasonal- and influenza adjusted. Quarterly figures
• Table 37 Sickness absence man-days for employees aged 16-69 in per cent of scheduled man-days, by sex and type of certification. Seasonal- and influenza adjusted. Change in per cent from previous quarter

Sickness absence man-days for employees self-certified and certified by a doctor. In per cent of scheduled man-days (Sickness absence rate). Quarterly figures

• Table 1 Sickness absence man-days for employees self-certified and certified by a doctor. In per cent of scheduled man-days (Sickness absence rate). Quarterly figures. 2000-2012
• Table 2 Sickness absence man-days for employees self-certified and certified by a doctor, by sex. In per cent of scheduled man-days (Sickness absence rate). Quarterly figures. 2000-2012
• Table 28 Sickness absence by type of absence(self-certified or doctor-certified) and duration within the quarter