Worker sickness down, but cost to businesses remain high, says IPPR

Analysis of today’s sickness absence figures by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) finds that:

• Private sector companies lost an estimated 3.9 working days per worker to sickness absence in 2024 – equating to 100.5m days lost in total.
• While the number of days lost through sickness for all workers has declined since 2022, it remains above levels seen in 2019 at 4.4 days per worker – a sign that the UK is still facing a major health challenge.
• 13.7 per cent of days lost were due to mental health conditions in 2024, an increase from 9 per cent in 2023. The proportion of days lost due to mental health had previously been falling continuously from 2019.  

Responding to the statistics, Dr Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at IPPR, said:  

“We must do more to prevent avoidable ill health and create workplaces that support people with health conditions to get into - and stay in - work. The lack of progress on mental health is particularly alarming and must become a greater priority for both public health policy and employer strategy.

“But not all sickness absence can or should be eliminated. IPPR analysis shows that the cost of people working while unwell has risen by £25 billion since 2018. People deserve the time they need to recover.”

ENDS

Dr Jamie O’Halloran is available for interview  

CONTACT

Liam Evans, Senior Digital and Media Officer: 07419 365334 l.evans@ippr.org

Rosie Okumbe, Digital and Media Officer: 07540 151137 R.Okumbe@ippr.org  

David Wastell, Director of News and Communications: 07921 403651 d.wastell@ippr.org  

NOTES TO EDITORS

• IPPR (the Institute for Public Policy Research) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society. We are researchers, communicators, and policy experts creating tangible progressive change, and turning bold ideas into common sense realities. Working across the UK, IPPR, IPPR North, and IPPR Scotland are deeply connected to the people of our nations and regions, and the issues our communities face. We have helped shape national conversations and progressive policy change for more than 30 years. From making the early case for the minimum wage and tackling regional inequality, to proposing a windfall tax on energy companies, IPPR’s research and policy work has put forward practical solutions for the crises facing society. www.ippr.org
• Data is derived from ONS statistics that can be found here.