Cash Register: Sickness-related Absences in the Job Also High in 2025 - Germany’s 2025 sick leave trends reveal mental health as a rising workplace challenge
Workers in Germany took an average of 19.5 days off due to illness in 2025. The latest figures reveal steady absence rates but shifting causes behind them. Respiratory infections, mental health struggles, and muscle or joint problems topped the list of reasons for sick leave.
The overall sick leave rate remained unchanged at 5.4% last year. This meant around 54 employees out of every 1,000 were absent on any given working day. On average, each episode of sickness lasted 9.8 days.
Respiratory illnesses stayed the most common reason for time off. Mental health issues, however, climbed to second place, pushing back pain into third. Older workers, particularly those over 60, recorded the longest absences, averaging about 20 days. The gap between sectors was noticeable. Staff in hospitals and nursing homes missed the most time, with an average of 22.5 days off. Meanwhile, employees in IT and data processing took the least sick leave, averaging just 12.6 days. In 2022, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach had proposed introducing partial sick notes to help employees return to work gradually. The idea aimed to reduce long-term absences by allowing phased reintegration.
The data highlights persistent challenges in workforce health, particularly in high-stress and physically demanding jobs. With mental health now the second biggest cause of absence, employers may need to adjust support measures. The steady overall rate suggests that while illness patterns evolve, the total impact on productivity remains consistent.
