Overview
- Randstad Research reported a 7.1% national work‑absence rate for the fourth quarter of 2025, using INE survey data that track the share of agreed hours lost.
- The highest rates were in the Canary Islands at 9.1%, in Cantabria at 8.9%, and in the Basque Country at 8.8%.
- Cantabria posted the sharpest year‑on‑year rise at 1.1 percentage points, tied with Asturias, while Murcia reached 8.2% after a 0.5‑point increase.
- Business concern is growing, with one local example in Vitoria showing a 28.1% absence rate at the city’s cleaning contractor in 2025, mostly due to common illness.
- Regional differences often reflect sector mix, health patterns, and local rules, and Randstad publishes these comparable absenteeism updates each quarter.