FOI reference: FOI-2026-3458
You asked
I have seen the published release Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2023 to 2024. However, I am looking for more up-to-date data than is currently available in that publication.
Please provide the total number of working days lost due to sickness absence in the UK.
Please provide the latest available data, even if it is provisional or unpublished.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The sickness absence data for 2025 are due to be published on 1 May 2026. Please see the ONS release calendar.
As such, the information you have requested is considered exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.