March 23, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Lowest absence rate in farm jobs

Workers in farming, forestry, and fishing occupations had the lowest absence rate in 2000.

[Chart data—TXT]

Among full-time workers with farm jobs, the absence rate was 2.6 percent—this was well below the average of 3.8 percent for all occupations. Service occupations had the highest absence rate, at 4.5 percent.

These data are a product of the Current Population Survey. More information on absence rates in 2000 can be found in Table 47 of the January 2001 Employment and Earnings. The absence rate is the ratio of workers with absences to total full-time wage and salary employment. Absences are defined as instances when persons who usually work 35 or more hours per week worked less than 35 hours during the reference week for one of the following reasons: own illness, injury, or medical problems; child-care problems; other family or personal obligations; civic or military duty; and maternity or paternity leave.