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/en/arbeid-og-lonn/statistikker/sykefratot/kvartal
153963
Decline in sickness absence flattens
statistikk
2014-03-20T10:00:00.000Z
Labour market and earnings;Immigration and immigrants;Health
en
sykefratot, Sickness absence, sick leave man-days, sickness absence rateHealth conditions and living habits, Health, Working environment, sickness absence, strikes and lockouts, Labour market and earnings, Labour market and earnings, Immigration and immigrants, Health
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Sickness absence, Q4 2013

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Decline in sickness absence flattens

After three successive quarters with a decline, sickness absence adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations remained almost unchanged from the 3rd quarter of 2013 to the 4th quarter of 2013. Sickness absence adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations was 6.4 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2013.

Sickness absence man-days for employees 16-69 years in per cent of contractual man-days, by type of absence and sex. Seasonal- and influenza adjusted1Published 20 March 2014
4th quarter 2013Per cent from previous quarter
1The sickness absence rates are shown to two decimal points. In other tables the rates are shown with one decimal point. More decimal points are used when calculating the rates of change in order to get more accurate figures. These will therefore differ slightly from the rates of change produced when using the published rounded figures.
Both sexes
Self-certified and certified by doctor6.441.1
Self-certified0.97-0.7
Certified by doctor5.471.4
Males
Self-certified and certified by doctor4.981.3
Self-certified0.84-0.8
Certified by doctor4.131.8
Females
Self-certified and certified by doctor8.260.9
Self-certified1.12-0.7
Certified by doctor7.141.1

Source: Statistics Norway

The self-certified sickness absence dropped by 0.7 per cent, while the doctor-certified absence increased by 1.4 per cent from the 3rd quarter of 2013 to the 4th quarter of 2013. Sickness absence for both men and women increased – by 1.3 and 0.9 per cent respectively.

Since the 2nd quarter of 2001, when the agreement on an inclusive labour market (IA agreement) was first implemented, the seasonal and influenza-adjusted sickness absence has dropped by 10.8 per cent.

Statistics without seasonal and influenza adjustment

Since the following comments are based on data that is not adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations, we look at changes over the past year, from the 4th quarter of 2012 to the 4th quarter of 2013.

Sickness absence that is not adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations was 6.4 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2013; a decrease of 5.2 per cent from the previous year. The self-certified sickness absence decreased by 10.5 per cent, and the doctor-certified sickness absence decreased by 4.1 per cent.

Decrease for both men and women last year

Sickness absence for women decreased from 8.6 to 8.2 per cent and for men the absence decreased from 5.2 to 4.9 per cent – a decrease of 5.3 and 5.2 per cent respectively.

Fall in sickness absence in all sectors

Sickness absence in all sectors went down from the 4th quarter of 2012 to the 4th quarter of 2013. Absence in public administration (including health enterprises) had the largest decrease of 7.1 per cent. The absence in local government and the private sector had a decrease of 5.4 and 4.6 per cent respectively.

The sickness absence level in the 4th quarter of 2013 was lowest in the private sector with 5.9 per cent, while central and local government had an absence rate of 6.2 and 8.3 per cent respectively.

Decrease in all industries

The sickness absence rate in all industries went down last year. Among the major industries, the information and communications industry and public administration services industry were the industries with the biggest decreases, with 9.2 and 8.9 per cent respectively. The real estate and technical activities industry had the smallest decrease of 1.9 per cent.

Decrease in all of the major age groups – for both men and women

The doctor-certified absence fell in all age groups. The strongest reductions were within the age groups 20-24 and 30-34 years, by 6.6 and 5.7 per cent respectively.

Among women, the strongest decline was in the age group 20-24 and 60-64 years, by 6.9 and 6.4 per cent respectively. Among men, the strongest reduction was in the age groups 30-34 and 20-24 years, by 6.5 and 6.3 per cent respectively.

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.