February 15, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Absence rates and industry, 2004

Full-time private sector workers in education and health services had an absence rate of 3.9 percent in 2004.

[Chart data—TXT]

The rate in education and health services was well above the average of 3.1 percent for all full-time wage and salary workers in the private sector.

In comparison, the absence rate for workers in agriculture and related industries was 1.7 percent.

These data are a product of the Current Population Survey. More information on absence rates in 2004 can be found in Table 47 (PDF) of the January 2005 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 in which 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. 

 

Related TED article:

• Absence rates and occupation, 2004