Absenteeism due to illness in the first three quarters of this year is 4.7 percent at its highest point since 2003, according to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Monday. Absence in the hotel and catering industry in particular has been higher this year than in previous years.
Last year, the average absenteeism rate in the first three quarters was 4.3 percent. The outbreak of the corona pandemic seems a logical explanation for the increase this year, but Statistics Netherlands has not investigated this and is therefore not making a statement about the cause.
In the third quarter, absenteeism was 4.4 percent. That was 4.0 percent in the third quarter last year. In almost all sectors, absenteeism between the beginning of July and the end of September was higher than last year. It was lower in various government services, including in education and public administration.
In healthcare, absenteeism has increased, from 5.2 percent in the third quarter of last year to 5.9 percent in the same period this year. Especially at nursing and care homes there were many reports of sickness: 7 percent. This makes it the sector with the most absenteeism.
The catering industry and agriculture normally have a small number of sicknesses, but in the third quarter of this year there was a significant increase for them. For example, absenteeism at catering companies, which were all open in the third quarter, rose from 2.6 to 4.1 percent. In agriculture, absenteeism rose from 2.6 to 4.1 percent. More employees also reported sick at hairdressers, saunas and swimming pools.
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