It is estimated that every day in Spain, more than 1.16 million workers are on medical leave. A phenomenon that is no longer explained only by colds or low back pain, but increasingly by mental health problems. And although many are trying to return to work as soon as possible, the figures confirm that sick leave is longer, more frequent and more expensive than ever.
According to the latest figures from AIReF and the mutual insurance association (AMAT), Spain closed 2025 with more than 9.1 million temporary disability processes, which represents an increase of 7.1% compared to the previous year. The total cost for companies and Social Security exceeded 33,000 million euros, 14% more than in 2024.
The average absenteeism rate is around 7%, in some sectors it shoots up to 9%. Communities such as Navarra, Catalonia and the Basque Country top the list, while Madrid, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia maintain the lowest levels. However, behind these figures hides that sectors such as health, transportation or logistics are the ones that have the most physical burden and stress.
The profile of sick leave among Spaniards
But if something has changed since the pandemic, it is the profile of sick leave. Musculoskeletal problems continue to be the most common, but mental pathologies have become the main cause of prolonged absence. Today, a leave due to anxiety, depression or stress lasts an average of 88 days, and mutual insurance companies recognize that these processes have multiplied by three in the last decade.
The data explains what many professionals have observed for a long time. Lorenzo Serrano, economist and researcher at the Valencian Institute of Economic Research, confesses that “strong growth occurs in two types of pathologies: physical pain and mental health problems. Although they are only a quarter of the processes, they represent more than half of the sick days”; This is how he explains it in pocket economyfrom the program Herrena at COPE.
Who are the most affected
In terms of age, those under 35 years of age are those who accumulate the most short sick leave, many linked to work stress or precariousness, while those over 55 endure longer sick leave, up to 82 days on average.
In both cases, recovery is complicated by two factors: the lack of mental health specialists and the bureaucracy that delays medical discharges. Faced with the increasing cost of sick leave, the Government and mutual insurance companies have tightened controls.
Between 75% and 85% of reviews end in ex officio discharges, and a gradual reintegration model is being tested to avoid worker isolation. However, economists warn that not everything is solved with more control.