In Spain, the number of sick leaves has risen sharply, placing the country at the top of the ranking of absenteeism due to temporary disability in the European Union, together with France and Portugal. The incidence of temporary disability has increased steadily since 2014, reaching historic levels in 2023.
Increase in Labor Dismissals in Numbers
Between 2007 and 2012, approximately 2% of workers missed work due to health reasons. However, in the last year, this figure doubled to 4.1%. This increase places Spain in a prominent position in terms of absenteeism, exceeding the EU average of 2.5%.
In 2023, there were more than 450 temporary disability sick leaves per 1,000 workers nationwide, a figure that represents the highest incidence since 2013. These data come from the latest study on the determinants of absenteeism, prepared by Umivale Activa and the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (Ivie).
Analysis of sick leave
The increase in sick leave has affected both those managed by mutual insurance companies and those processed by the Social Security, although in different ways. In absences from work due to common contingencies, the annual incidence of those managed by mutual insurance companies stood at 409 absences per thousand workers in 2023, an increase of 67% over 2013. In the case of sick leave managed by the National Social Security Institute (INSS), the volume more than doubled, with an increase of 138% over 2013, reaching 414 new processes per thousand employed.
On the other hand, sick leave due to occupational disease or occupational accident showed a more moderate incidence, with 41.6 new processes per 1,000 workers in the case of the mutual insurance companies, and 59.6 in the processes managed by the INSS.
Economic Impact
In 2023, more than 396 million working days were lost in Spain due to temporary incapacity (TI) processes, an increase of 62% compared to 2018. This increase represents an annual cost of more than 17,000 million euros, equivalent to 1.4% of Spanish GDP. This cost is significantly higher than the 1.2% average in Europe.
The lengthening of sick leave is attributed in part to the lack of response from the public health system. Delays in obtaining medical appointments and surgery contribute to the increase in sick leave. The collapse of the National Health System (NHS) is identified as a major cause of these delays.
Mental Health
Mental health has become a growing concern. Depression has emerged as the leading cause of permanent incapacity for work in Spain, surpassing back problems. The prevalence of this disease in Spain is 29%, significantly higher than the 15% average in Europe.
A study by the Health and Sustainability Action Group reveals that only 64% of companies in Spain have initiatives to care for the mental health of their employees. Fear of losing one’s job is one of the main triggers of mental health problems, with 30% of Spaniards considering it possible to lose their job in 2024.
Regionality of Absenteeism
Asturias, the Basque Country and Galicia are the autonomous communities most affected by absenteeism. Asturias leads with a rate of 8.3%, followed by the Basque Country with 7.9% and Galicia with 7.8%. In contrast, Andalusia has an absenteeism rate of 6.6%.
Conclusion
The increase in absenteeism in Spain reflects not only an increase in the incidence of health problems among workers, but also deficiencies in the public health system and the need for greater attention to mental health in the workplace. The current situation calls for effective measures to improve worker health management and ensure a healthy and productive work environment.
