Sickness absence, Q4 2003

The absence rate increased from 9.5 to 10.3 for women and from 6.5 to 6.9 for men. The health and social service sector stands out with an increase of 0.9 percentage points, from 10.2 to 11.1 per cent.

Highest increase in long-term absence

Sickness absence lasting through the whole quarter increased from 31.6 to 34.0 per cent from Q4 2002 to the fourth quarter 2003. The corresponding figure forQ42000 was 30.1 per cent.

The following comments are based on figures for sickness absence certified by a doctor, which represents approximately 90 per cent of the total absence. The survey on self-certified absence only contains information on industry and gender.

Lowest increase among young people

The growth in doctor-certified sickness absence among women and men aged 16-24 was significantly lower than average, while the increase was higher than average for employees aged 65-66.

Slight rise in Oslo, highest in Finnmark

Oslo had the lowest sickness absence growth at 0.3 percentage points, compared with 0.6 percentage points for the country as a whole. The counties of Hordaland, Nord-Trøndelag, and Finnmark had the highest growth at 0.8, 0.8 and 0.9 percentage points respectively.

Sickness absence statistics in Statbank Norway

Statbank Norway is an Internet service containing detailed statistics on sickness absence by gender, age, industry and county of residence.

Tables:

• 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. 2000-2003
• 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. 2000-2003
• Table 3 Sickness absence man-days for employees self-certified and certified by a doctor, by industry and type of sickness absence. In per cent of scheduled man days (sickness absence rate). Quarterly figures. 2000-2003

Published tables