Spain labor absenteeism rises amid mental health concerns

Labor absenteeism in Spain has reached significant levels, according to recent industry and institutional reports. The Adecco Group Institute reported that Spain's absenteeism rate stood at 7.62% in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest first-quarter rate in the historical series and remaining 2.21 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels.

In the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) sector, Foro MICE reported a 23.9% increase in absenteeism between 2022 and 2025. The economic impact in this sector rose by 46.3% over that period, reaching 2.339 billion euros in 2025. While the sector's monthly incidence remains below the national average, the average duration of medical leave increased by 17.5%.

Key drivers for these trends include an aging workforce and a growing prevalence of mental health issues. Notably, the MICE sector saw a 42.5% increase in absenteeism among workers aged 16 to 35 since 2022, representing the highest incidence rate among all age groups analyzed.