The issue of work absenteeism has been one of the most debated in Spain in recent days. He high number of workers who are on sick leave In Spain it has set off alarm bells, since, according to data from business associations and labor mutual societies, more than 7% of employees miss their jobs every day. Something that affects some sectors to a greater and lesser extent.
According to the latest report presented by Randstad this July, during the first quarter of 2026, work absenteeism reached 7.6%, affecting 1,602,889 workers per day. Within this figure, it is estimated that 1,240,138 have medical leave, increasing by 4% in relation to the data recorded in the same period of 2025.
Postal and gambling activities lead the ranking of absenteeism
However, there are certain sectors with a higher percentage of cases of general work absenteeism. The data offered by Randstad reveal that the two sectors affected by this issue are: postal and mailing activitieswith 13.5%; gambling and betting activities, with 12%; and those related to the collection, treatment and disposal of waste, with 10.2%.
On the contrary, the ranking of the sectors that lower absenteeism generally present is led by those in which they are carried out employment-related activities (3%) and with editing (3.5%). These are followed by real estate activities (4.1%), information services (4.1%) and research and development (4%).
The order changes when only cases of temporary disability are taken into account.
Although this order changes if only cases of absenteeism are taken into account due to temporary disability (IT), which have increased to almost 9%. In this sense, the sectors that lead the ranking are those dedicated to building services and gardening activities (10.6%), gambling and betting activities (10.6%) and waste collection, treatment and disposal (10.2%).
While the sectors in which there are lower absenteeism due to temporary disability are those registered in the categories: programming, consulting and others computer related activities (2.2%), employment-related activities (2.4%), publishing (2.5%) and research and development (2.5%).
Absenteeism is reduced in security, sports and veterinary activities
Regarding the sectors that present a mgreater growth in absenteeismthese are led by the gambling and betting activitieswith an increase of 1.1 points; air transport, with an increase of 1 point; and, with an increase of 0.9 points, both activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance and postal activities.
And in the sectors with greater reduction in absenteeismthey highlight: security and investigation activitieswith -1.3 points; sports, recreational and training activities, with -0.9 points; veterinary activities, with -0.8 points; and wastewater collection and treatment, with -0.7 points.
The autonomous communities with the highest and lowest rate of work absenteeism
Likewise, in the report you can also find a list with the autonomous communities in which the highest number of cases of work absenteeism have been recorded. The leader of the ranking is the Basque Countrywhich repeats with respect to the previous report, this time with a rate of 9.4%. It is followed by Asturias, with 9.1%, and the Canary Islands, with 8.9%.
On the other hand, communities with lower absenteeism rate are Balearicswith 5.9%; Madrid, with 6.2%; and La Rioja, with 6.4%. Among these, the Balearic Islands have presented an increase of 0.3 points, while La Rioja has decreased by 0.2 points and Madrid remains with the same figures.
According to data offered by the General Council of Social Graduates, This situation is due to different factorsincluding population aging, primary care, regulatory changes and other health-related issues. Among the latter, mental health stands out, which is the cause of 20% of medical sick leave.
All this reveals that absenteeism is becoming a structural problem in Spainfor which measures must be taken to improve the well-being and health of workers, as well as reduce the losses that these absences are causing for employers.