Work absences

Work absenteeism rates rose significantly in 2001, according to data from the Labour Force Survey.

An estimated 700,000 full-time employees, or about 7.0% of the total, were absent from work for all or part of any given week because of personal reasons, such as illness or disability, or personal or family responsibilities, excluding maternity leave. This was up considerably from 6.3% in 2000, and 5.5% in 1997.

As a result of these absences, 3.4% of usual weekly work time was lost in 2001. This "inactivity rate" was higher than the 3.2% in 2000, and 3.0% in 1997.

This translates into an average 8.5 days for each full-time employee, about half a day more than in 2000, and a little over a full day more than the 7.4 days five years earlier.

In total, an estimated 85.2 million workdays were lost because of personal reasons in 2001, up from 78.6 million in 2000 and 65.6 million in 1997.

Average workdays lost per full-time worker on account of own illness or disability rose over the five-year period from 6.2 days in 1997 to 7.0 days in 2001. Average workdays lost to personal and family responsibilities rose from 1.2 days to 1.5 days.

Detailed tables are provided in Work absence rates, 1991 to 2001 (71-535-MPB, $50), which is already available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Henry Pold (613-951-4608; perspectives@statcan.gc.ca), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division.