Data · 6 min read

Absenteeism statistics Australia [2026].

The numbers behind workplace absence in Australia: how many days the average worker takes, what each absence costs, and how the figure moves by sector. Use these to benchmark your own team.

Last updated June 2026. We refresh this page each year as new DHS and ABS data lands.

~11 days

Average paid sick and carer's leave taken per employee each year, against a 10-day entitlement.¹

A$4,000+

Average direct cost of absence per employee per year, up from about A$3,400 before the pandemic.¹

7 to 8%

Share of total payroll lost to absence once direct and indirect costs are counted.¹

~A$340 / day

Estimated cost to a business of a single absent employee, based on ABS earnings data.¹

A$33B

Estimated annual cost of absenteeism to the Australian economy.²

The trend: absence is rising

Absence levels climbed through the pandemic and have not returned to earlier lows. The average worker now takes more than the full 10-day entitlement, and the direct cost per employee has grown by roughly a fifth since the pre-pandemic period.¹ The drivers are familiar: respiratory illness, mental health, and caring responsibilities.

It varies by sector

Shift-based and frontline work runs higher than office-based work. Use the closest match as your benchmark.

Sector	Average absence days per employee, per year
Travel, tourism, and hospitality	~11.9
Transport and logistics	~11.6
National average (all sectors)	~11
Office and professional services	Typically lower

Figures from the Direct Health Solutions Absence Management Survey. Sector averages move year to year.¹

Turn the benchmark into action

A benchmark only helps when you measure your own team against it. Three steps close the gap.

Measure your rate. Use the absenteeism rate calculator to compare your team with the national figure.
Price it. The cost of absenteeism calculator turns days into dollars for your headcount.
Act on patterns. Catch day-of-week clusters and close return-to-work conversations to bring the figure down.

Benchmark your team in minutes.

Absence tracks your rate and trend against the national average, with day-of-week patterns and a return-to-work queue. Free for teams of 5.

Start free → See what absence costs you →

Sources and notes

Direct Health Solutions Absence Management and Wellbeing Report. Average around 11 days taken against a 10-day entitlement, direct cost above A$4,000 per employee per year, total absence 7 to 8 percent of payroll, daily cost about A$340, with hospitality near 11.9 days and transport and logistics near 11.6 days.
Economy-wide cost estimates for Australian absenteeism sit in the A$30 to 33 billion range, drawn from DHS survey data and productivity analysis.

Statistics are point estimates and vary by survey year, sector, and method. Use them for general guidance and benchmarking. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.