TenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura SurTenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura Sur
ES|EN

La Voz Canaria

Canary Islands Lead Absenteeism with Average 100-Day Sick Leaves

The absenteeism rate in the islands reached 9.1% in 2025, surpassing the national average of 7% and causing significant financial losses for businesses.

Generic image of a calendar with a marked date, symbolizing sick leave duration.
IA

Generic image of a calendar with a marked date, symbolizing sick leave duration.

The Canary Islands are consolidating their position as the autonomous community with the highest work absenteeism rate in Spain, with an average sick leave duration exceeding 100 days and an estimated economic impact of 3 billion euros for businesses.

By the end of 2025, the archipelago registered an absenteeism rate of 9.1%, significantly higher than the national average of 7%. In the specific case of temporary disabilities, the gap is even wider, standing at 7.9% in the Canary Islands compared to 5.5% in the rest of the territory, according to data from the Mutua de Accidentes de Canarias (MAC) presented at the Confederación Canaria de Empresarios (CCE).
These high figures have a considerable negative impact on the business sector, with estimated losses of 3 billion euros, including direct and indirect costs, according to the Adecco Foundation. This amount represents between 2.8% and 3% of the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Common contingencies are the main factor behind temporary disabilities, with a 16% increase in 2025, reaching 41.95 processes per 1,000 workers. In contrast, work accidents and occupational diseases show a downward trend, with an incidence of 2.49 processes per 1,000 workers and an average duration of 46.7 days, which MAC attributes to the effectiveness of occupational risk prevention programs.
“

"An integrated approach combining management, institutional coordination, and prevention is proposed."

a spokesperson for the Mutua de Accidentes de Canarias
Psychosocial pathologies remain the primary driver of absenteeism, with an average duration of mental health processes of 98.5 days, a 47% increase compared to 2017. In 2025, 473,359 common contingency procedures were initiated, compared to 28,042 sick leaves due to work accidents or occupational diseases. This resulted in a daily average of 62,500 workers on temporary disability, totaling 22.8 million lost working days.
Given this situation, the Mutua de Accidentes de Canarias (MAC) suggests measures focused on temporary disabilities due to common contingencies, which account for 92% of sick leaves. Proposals include improving the management of medical discharges, greater coordination between the Canarian Health Service, Social Security, and mutual insurance companies, and strengthening the public health system and medical inspection. The need to invest in mental health and awareness is also highlighted, along with maintaining occupational risk prevention programs.

Related News