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/en/arbeid-og-lonn/statistikker/sykefratot/kvartal
153967
Seasonally-adjusted sickness absence still stable
statistikk
2014-09-11T10:00:00.000Z
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
false
The statistics are intended to shed light on sickness absence trends in the aggregate and distributed by industry, occupation, hours worked and various personal variables connected with those on sick leave.

Sickness absence, Q2 2014

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Seasonally-adjusted sickness absence still stable

Sickness absence adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations was 6.5 per cent in the 2nd quarter of 2014, almost unchanged from the 1st quarter of 2014.

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 11 September 2014
2nd quarter 2014Per 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 doctor6.480.1
Self-certified0.990.1
Certified by doctor5.480.1
Males
Self-certified and certified by doctor5.00-0.2
Self-certified0.87-0.8
Certified by doctor4.13-0.1
Females
Self-certified and certified by doctor8.330.4
Self-certified1.151.0
Certified by doctor7.180.3

Source: Statistics Norway

Both the self-certified and the doctor-certified absence had a marginal rate of increase by 0.1 per cent from the 1st quarter of 2014 to the 2nd quarter of 2014. Sickness absence for men fell by 0.2 per cent, while rising 0.4 per cent for women.

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 10.2 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 2nd quarter of 2013 to the 2nd quarter of 2014.

Sickness absence that is not adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations was 6.0 per cent in the 2nd quarter of 2014; an increase of 0.5 per cent from the previous year. The self-certified sickness absences decreased by 6.8 per cent, while the doctor-certified sickness absence increased by 1.7 per cent.

Sickness absence for men and women was 4.6 and 7.8 per cent respectively in the 2nd quarter of 2014. The rates of change show a minor increase of 0.4 per cent for both sexes last year.

The figures that are adjusted for seasonal and influenza variations show a minor decrease last year. The reason is that Easter was in the 2nd quarter of 2014 and in the 1st quarter of 2013. Since we do not have seasonally-adjusted numbers for the groups mentioned below, we do not have a precise estimate of the Easter effect. The relative conditions between the groups will, however, not be affected by this, but figures showing a fall will generally be underestimated and figures showing an increase will be overestimated.

Same level for both men and women last year

Sickness absence for both men and women remained almost unchanged last year at - 4.6 and 7.8 per cent respectively, but a detailed look shows a slight increase of 0.4 per cent for both sexes.

Increase in sickness absence in local government

Sickness absence in local government rose by 2.0 per cent from the 2nd quarter of 2013 to the 2nd quarter of 2014. Absence in public administration (including health enterprises) and the private sector had a minimal decrease of 0.4 and 0.1 per cent respectively.

The sickness absence level in the 2nd quarter of 2014 was lowest in the private sector with 5.5 per cent, while central and local government had an absence rate of 5.8 and 8.0 per cent respectively.

Increase in real estate and technical activities

Among the major industries, the real estate and technical activities together with the information and communication industry had the largest increase in sickness absence of 4.3 and 4.0 per cent respectively. Absence in the health and social work activities industry had the largest decrease of 1.3 per cent.

Decrease among the youngest

For both men and women, the doctor-certified absence had the strongest reduction in the age groups 20-24 and 25-29 years. The absence for women declined by 4.3 and 0.8 per cent respectively, while the absence for men decreased by 3.7 and 2.5 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.