A recent study has identified Wales as the UK’s leading region for employee sick days, with workers taking an average of 5.64 days off per year.
This puts Wales ahead of the North East and Scotland, where employees call in sick an average of 5.11 and 4.87 days a year, respectively. In stark contrast, London workers report the fewest sick days, averaging just 3.44 days annually.
The study, conducted by personal injury experts Claims.co.uk, analysed Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on sickness and absence across the UK labour market from 2013 to 2022. The analysis highlighted significant regional differences in the number of workdays lost due to illness or other absences.
Key Findings by Region
- Wales: Dubbed the “sickie” capital of the UK, Wales experienced the highest average number of sick days per worker at 5.64. The peak year was 2022, with workers taking an average of eight days off, the highest across all UK regions during the period.
- North East: Ranking second, the North East saw an average of 5.11 sick days per worker annually. Despite its smaller population, the region reported a significant loss of workdays, totaling an average of 6.07 million per year.
- Scotland: In third place, Scottish workers took an average of 4.87 days off annually. The region experienced the highest total number of workdays lost in 2022, with 17.7 million days—equivalent to each resident taking over three days off.
- Northern Ireland: With an average of 4.86 sick days per worker, Northern Ireland saw the fewest total lost workdays due to its smaller population, averaging 4.06 million days per year.
- North West: This region reported an average of 4.8 sick days per worker and the second-highest total number of lost workdays, with 16.24 million days annually, surpassed only by the South East.
Other notable regions include Yorkshire and the Humber (4.74 days), the East Midlands (4.63 days), and the West Midlands (4.49 days). The South West averaged 4.44 sick days per worker, while the South East and East of England both reported 4.05 days.
London’s Low Sick Day Rate
London stood out for its low sick day rate, with an average of 3.44 days per worker, the lowest in the UK. However, due to its large population, London still saw a significant total of 15.66 million lost workdays annually. Notably, 2022 saw a sharp increase, with 23.5 million workdays lost, the highest for any UK region that year.
National Overview
Across the UK, the average number of workdays lost due to sickness or absence was 140 million per year over the decade, totaling approximately 1.04 billion days. The year 2022 marked the highest annual total, with a staggering 185.6 million workdays lost.
A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk commented on the study, noting, “The recent study highlights significant variations in the number of sick days taken by workers across different UK regions. It reveals patterns that could be influenced by various factors such as workplace conditions, regional health trends, and socio-economic differences.”
The findings underscore the importance of addressing regional disparities in employee health and well-being, aiming to support a healthier and more productive workforce nationwide.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
