Spain’s workplace absenteeism rises to 7.2% in Q1 2026

Spain’s overall labour‑absenteeism rate climbed to 7.2% of contracted hours in the first quarter of 2026, a two‑tenths increase from a year earlier. The rise means an estimated 1.6 million workers were absent each day, with roughly 1.24 million on medically certified sick leave and about 362 000 absent for other reasons.

Regional data from Randstad Research show notable differences. The Community of Madrid posted the lowest rate at 6.2%, while Castilla y León recorded 7.3% and Andalusia rose to 7.0%, making it the second‑fastest‑growing region after Asturias. The Basque Country still leads the nation with the highest absenteeism at 9.4%.

Sector‑specific trends vary: industry registers the highest absence rates in several regions, construction often shows the lowest, and services display mixed movements. In Andalusia, construction absenteeism jumped to 7.3%, the second‑highest in the country, while the industrial sector remained the least absent.

Health experts note that mental‑health issues have become the second leading cause of sick leave nationwide. Nacho Aguado of the Institute of Public and Occupational Health of Navarre highlighted the growing impact of psychological disorders, especially among women, and stressed the need for preventive workplace measures.