Sick leave increased

The number of sick days per employee during the sick pay period increased during the fourth quarter compared to the same quarter of 2010. In total the number of sick days per employee during the sick pay period was 1.48 compared to 1.32 in 2010.

As of the second quarter, the design of the survey has been changed. This has affected the estimation levels. See “Definitions and explanations for more information.

The number of sick days per employee for the private sector increased by 0.15 days compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. In the public sector, women in the municipality sector had the largest change. During the fourth quarter, total sick pay was given for an average of 1.18 days per employee.

Sick days per employee by sector and sex

Sector	Sex	Fourth quarter
		2011	2010
Private	Women	1.38	1.35
	Men	1.27	1.04
	Total	1.31	1.16
Municipality	Women	2.23	1.92
	Men	1.47	1.38
	Total	2.07	1.81
County council	Women	1.97	1.82
	Men	1.19	1.11
	Total	1.82	1.68
Central government	Women	1.58	1.54
	Men	0.82	0.78
	Total	1.21	1.17
Total	Women	1.7	1.58
	Men	1.26	1.06
	Total	1.48	1.32

The number of sick periods increased

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, the number of sick periods per employee in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased by 0.04 periods to 0.36. In the private sector the number of sick periods per employee was 0.33 while in the central government sector the number amounted to 0.27. In the municipality sector and the county council sector the number of sick periods per employee was 0.48 and 0.44 respectively.

Definitions and explanations

New design from second quarter 2011
Changes have been made in the survey design that have affected the estimation levels. Comparisons from previous quarters should be made with caution until the coming quarterly measurements are made.
Sick pay period is the period when an employee is absent from work due to sickness and is eligible for sick pay.
Sick days are all calendar days in the sick period, regardless of whether the employee is reimbursed for all days with sick pay or not.
Sick period Each time an employee begins a sick period a new period is generated, regardless of how many sick days the period consists of. The survey presents periods that were completed during the quarter.

The survey is published quarterly. The surveys for 2002-2005 have been published on the website of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.