02/04/2026
Nearly 3 million UK workers are currently off sick long-term.
The numbers speak for themselves:
£16 billion in annual economic loss
£451 average individual cost per patient
Depression & anxiety are the leading cause of fit notes
Average sickness absence has grown from 26.2 to 29.8 days since the pandemic
These are statistics that affect real people, real families, and real livelihoods across the UK.
Long-term illness is something none of us plan for, but the data shows it's far more common than most people think.
👇 Were you aware the figures were this high? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Source: Springer Nature Link