Sickness absence rate stable in recent years

Last year's sickness absence rate for Dutch employees averaged 4.3 percent. The lowest rate was recorded among people employed in agriculture. Since 2004, the sickness absence rate in the Netherlands has been all but stable.

Lowest rate for agricultural workforce

With 2.9 percent, the sector agriculture and fisheries had the lowest sickness absence rate. The highest rates were recorded in public administration (5.6 percent) and health care and welfare (5.3 percent).

Sickness absence Dutch employees by sector, 2008*

1 in 20 employees reported sick in large companies

The sickness absence rate in large companies employing one hundred or more people averaged 5.0 percent in 2008. The daily rates for small and middle-sized companies averaged 3.4 and 3.3 percent respectively.

Sickness absence stable since 2004

Over the period 1993–2008, sickness absence ranged between 6.2 and 4.3 percent. In this period various acts came into force aiming to reduce absence due to sickness. In 2004, the rate was 4.3 percent. Since then, the rate has been fairly stable.  

Sickness absence Dutch employees, time series

John Kartopawiro