Britain lost almost 149 MILLION working days to sickness last year as more than 10 million people were signed off work as “not fit for work”, new figures reveal.
Data published today by the Office for National Statistics found 148.8 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury in 2025 - almost 10 million higher than before the pandemic.
Workers lost an average of 4.4 days each during the year, unchanged from 2024 but still above 2019 levels.
Women, older workers, people with long-term health conditions and part-time employees recorded some of the highest sickness absence rates.
The figures also revealed a sharp divide between public and private sector workers.
Public sector staff recorded a sickness absence rate of 2.9 per cent in 2025 compared with 1.7 per cent in the private sector.
Yorkshire and The Humber had the highest regional sickness absence rate at 2.4 per cent, while London recorded the lowest at 1.5 per cent.
Minor illnesses remained the biggest cause of absence, accounting for 30.4 per cent of cases.
Workers lost an average of 4.4 days each during the year
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Musculoskeletal problems made up 14.6 per cent, while mental health conditions accounted for 8.9 per cent.
Separate NHS England data also showed 11.17 million fit notes - known as sick notes - were issued in 2025. Of those, more than 10.3 million were classed as “not fit for work”.
Women accounted for almost six in ten fit notes issued.
Nearly one million sick notes advised phased returns, amended duties or altered hours instead of full absence from work.
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Mental and behavioural disorders were the most common diagnosed reason for fit notes, accounting for 36 per cent of diagnosed cases, followed by musculoskeletal conditions at 18 per cent. More than 8 million fit notes issued last year carried no diagnosis.
The figures come amid continued pressure on NHS services. ONS data showed almost a quarter of people trying to contact their GP in March 2026 were unable to get through on the same day. Nearly one in five NHS patients waiting for hospital treatment had been waiting more than 12 months.
Brett Hill, Head of Health and Protection at the consultancy firm Broadstone, said: “Delays in GP appointments and long treatment waiting lists mean conditions are often allowed to deteriorate before people receive much-needed care.”
Jamie Burdess, Principal Consultant at Broadstone, added: “When more than 10 million people are being signed off as unfit for work, it raises questions about whether the sick note system is working as intended.”
Last week the government announced a new sick note rule to be rolled out across England in November - which means GPs can send patients to the gym, a career coach or a class instead of automatically issuing sick notes.The nationwide scheme aims to give those signed off work access support and services.
The initiative aims to reduce long-term sickness absence by focusing on support and rehabilitation, aiming to return patients to work.