In the first half of 2024, the rates of medium-term and long-term absenteeism increased further to 2.53% and 3.36% respectively: On an average working day, 2.53% of workers were absent due to illness for between one month and one year and 3.36% for more than one year.
Among 25-34 year-olds, medium-term absenteeism stands at 2.13% (+26% vs. 2022) and long-term absenteeism at 0.75% (+42% vs. 2022).
Among 55-59 year-olds, medium-term absenteeism falls to 3.3% (-11% vs. 2022).

In our country, medium- and long-term absenteeism – absences from work due to illness or a private accident – continued to increase, reaching new highs in the first half of 2024. This is what emerges from the analysis of salary data from more than 164,000 workers in Belgium by HR service provider Securex. Medium-term absenteeism (absence due to illness lasting from one month to one year) increased by 8% in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 (from 2.35% to 2.53%). This is even an increase of 10% compared to the first half of 2022 (2.29%). Long-term absenteeism (absence due to illness lasting more than one year) has increased by 7% (from 3.13% to 3.36%) since the first half of 2022. Securex notes a striking increase in absenteeism, particularly among young workers and manual workers.