[REVISION HISTORY]

Spain labour market: absenteeism and employment shifts

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-29 01:23 UTC → 2026-09-11 19:41 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By late ~~August~~ 2026, Spain’s structural rise in labor absenteeism continues to pose significant challenges. While ~~previous data indicated a sharp climb toward 7.6% in August,~~ 2025 figures showed a national rate of 5.21% driven by increased temporary incapacity ~~processes.~~ processes, the Adecco Group Institute reported that the rate reached 7.62% in the first quarter of 2026. This represents the highest first-quarter rate in the historical series and sits 2.21 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels. Regional and sectoral disparities ~~remain evident; in~~ persist. In the Government of Navarra, absenteeism reached a historic ~~high,~~ high in 2025, with public employees averaging 21.08 days of ~~absence in 2025—an~~ absence—an 18.8% increase from ~~2021—even as~~ 2021. Within the ~~administration grew~~ MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) sector, Foro MICE reported a 23.9% increase in absenteeism between 2022 and 2025, with the economic impact rising 46.3% to ~~over 31,000 employees. In response~~ 2.339 billion euros in 2025. Notably, the MICE sector saw a 42.5% increase in absenteeism among workers aged 16 to 35 since 2022. Key drivers for these trends include an aging workforce and a growing prevalence of mental health issues. In response to evolving legal standards, the Workers’ Statute has undergone ~~reform, specifically~~ reform regarding Article 49. Following jurisprudence from the Court of Justice of the European Union in the ‘Ca Na Negreta’ case, companies are no longer permitted to automatically terminate contracts due to permanent disability. Employers are now legally required to evaluate reasonable accommodations or the availability of compatible roles to prevent discrimination and preserve employment.

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