NEARLY 150 million working days were lost in Britain because of sickness or injury in 2025, according to official figures released today.

The Office for National Statistics said that the absence rate of 2 per cent – an average of 4.4 days were lost per worker amounting to 148.8m in total – was the same as in 2024.

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s head of policy Ruth Wilkinson described the figures as “a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge facing the UK workforce.”

Women, older workers, those with long-term health conditions, people working part-time, those in the public sector and people working in process, plant and machine operatives occupations were among the groups with the highest absence rates.

Work Foundation senior policy adviser Asli Atay urged policymakers to “ensure all workers who fall ill have the support and financial security to take leave and recuperate when they need it.”

She added that Work Foundation research found that two in three workers have gone to work sick when they should have taken time off.