A recent study by personal injury experts Claims.co.uk has unveiled some fascinating insights into the UK’s sick day statistics, revealing which regions lose the most working days due to sickness and absence. By analysing data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covering the period from 2013 to 2022, the study sheds light on significant regional variations that could have substantial implications for businesses and policymakers alike.
- Wales is the calling-in-sick capital of the UK, losing 5.64 days per year on average.
- The North East and Scotland rank second and third, calling in sick an average of 5.11 and 4.87 days a year, respectively.
- London calls in sick the least, with each worker taking off 3.44 days per year.
Wales: The Sick Day Capital
Taking the top spot is Wales, which has earned the title of the UK’s “sickie” capital. Workers in Wales called in sick an average of 5.64 days per year over the ten-year period. The year 2022 marked a peak, with Welsh workers taking an average of eight sick days, the highest figure recorded for any UK region during the studied period. In total, Wales saw an average of 8.15 million workdays lost annually due to sickness, with a staggering 11.6 million days lost in 2022 alone.
The North East and Scotland
The North East of England ranked second, with workers averaging 5.11 sick days per year. Despite its smaller population, the region still accounted for 6.07 million lost workdays annually. Scotland came in third, with an average of 4.87 sick days per worker per year. In 2022, Scotland recorded the highest number of days lost per worker (6.5 days) and the highest total number of days lost (17.7 million), equating to every Scottish resident, regardless of age or employment status, taking over three days off.
Northern Ireland and the North West
Northern Ireland placed fourth, with workers taking an average of 4.86 sick days per year. Due to its smaller population, it had the lowest total number of workdays lost among UK regions, averaging 4.06 million days annually. The North West of England rounded out the top five, with an average of 4.8 sick days per worker per year and a significant 16.24 million workdays lost annually, second only to the South East in total days lost.
Middle of the Pack
Yorkshire and the Humber ranked sixth, with workers taking an average of 4.74 sick days per year, resulting in 12.06 million lost workdays annually. The East Midlands followed in seventh place, with an average of 4.63 sick days per worker per year. Notably, 2022 was a challenging year for the East Midlands, recording six sick days per worker and 14 million lost workdays.
The West Midlands came in eighth, averaging 4.49 sick days per worker per year, leading to 12.22 million lost workdays annually. The South West of England ranked ninth, with workers taking 4.44 sick days per year and 16.5 million workdays lost in 2022.
The Least Sick Regions
Tied for tenth place were the South East and East of England, both averaging 4.05 sick days per worker per year. The South East, however, saw the highest total number of workdays lost, with an average of 18.29 million days annually. The East of England averaged 12.39 million lost workdays per year.
Finally, London recorded the least number of sick days per worker, averaging just 3.44 days per year. Nevertheless, the sheer population size of the capital resulted in a significant total of 15.66 million lost workdays annually. In 2022, London experienced a notable spike, with 23.5 million workdays lost due to sickness, the highest figure for any UK region that year.
National Trends and Implications
Across the UK, an average of 140 million workdays were lost annually due to sickness over the ten-year period, culminating in a total of 1.04 billion workdays. The year 2022 saw the highest number of sick days, with 185.6 million workdays lost, equivalent to the entire UK population taking just over two days off each.
The UK areas taking the most sick days per year
| Rank | Geographic area | Days lost per worker – 10 Year average |
| 1. | Wales | 5.64 |
| 2. | North East | 5.11 |
| 3. | Scotland | 4.87 |
| 4. | Northern Ireland | 4.86 |
| 5. | North West | 4.8 |
| 6. | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4.74 |
| 7. | East Midlands | 4.63 |
| 8. | West Midlands | 4.49 |
| 9. | South West | 4.44 |
| 10. | South East | 4.05 |
| 10. | East of England | 4.05 |
| 11. | London | 3.44 |
A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk commented on the findings, stating, “The recent study highlights significant variations in the number of sick days taken by workers across different UK regions. It reveals patterns that could be influenced by various factors such as workplace conditions, regional health trends, and socio-economic differences. Understanding these disparities in the data is crucial for finding ways to support employee health and well-being across the country.”
These findings underscore the importance of addressing regional disparities in health and workplace conditions to ensure a healthier, more productive workforce across the UK.
For more information visit https://www.claims.co.uk