Absenteeism in the Region of Murcia has become a persistent challenge. The region's rate has climbed to 7.7%, above Spain's national average of 7.2%; it also edges past last year's 7.6%. Alfonso Hernández Quereda, dean of the Colegio de Graduados Sociales de la Región de Murcia, has described the ongoing rise as a sign that absenteeism is now a structural issue affecting the local workforce.
One of the most striking aspects is the duration of medical leave. In 2025, sick leave in Murcia averaged 61.38 days, compared with 44.14 days nationally, a difference of 17.24 days, or about 17 days. The regional average is approximately 39% higher when measured against the national average. Hernández Quereda has emphasized that extended absences cannot be attributed solely to employee motivation: the trend also reflects an aging workforce and prevalent illnesses, alongside the physical demands of basic regional industries.
Medical leave accounts for about 6.1% of absenteeism in Murcia, slightly below the national figure of 6.2%, while the region's overall absenteeism rate remains higher than Spain's average. Across Spain, temporary-incapacity cases reached approximately 1.24 million in 2025, a 14% increase from 2023. From 2019 to 2025, the cumulative rise in cases was close to 25%. These totals count temporary-incapacity episodes and should not automatically be read as the number of distinct workers affected.
Murcia's industrial sector is particularly affected, with an absenteeism rate of around 8% in the first quarter of 2026. Although this was slightly below the 8.1% recorded a year earlier, the sector continues to face challenges linked to physically demanding roles and repetitive tasks, compounded by an aging workforce. Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of absence, particularly in jobs involving sustained physical effort or awkward postures.
The service sector follows, with a general absenteeism rate of 7.8%, including 6.2% attributed to medical leave. Construction and agriculture report a lower rate of 6.8%, but workers in both sectors also face risks from physical work, including injuries and harsh conditions. Seasonal agricultural employment and the limited influx of younger workers add to the pressures.
Mental health issues account for 20.3% of absenteeism cases in Murcia. Musculoskeletal problems remain the leading cause, representing about 45% of cases, while anxiety and depression, alongside stress, are increasingly impressive. Hernández Quereda has linked some of these cases to organizational problems and workplace conflicts, with deteriorating work environments also implicated. Cancer-related illnesses account for around 7% of absences.
Self-employed workers face longer absences nationwide: average sick leave lasts 101.83 days, compared with 39.29 days for employees covered by the General Regime. Employers and unions continue to debate how absenteeism should be defined. Hernández Quereda maintains that statistics should include all absences from work, whether justified or not, a distinction that matters because broad absenteeism measures and medical-leave figures describe different aspects of workforce absence.
Absenteeism is a growing concern across Spain, including Murcia. The trend reflects broader demographic and economic pressures, among them an aging population and the physical demands of traditional industries. Prolonged absence can reduce productivity and raise healthcare costs, adding pressure to social security systems. Preventive measures focused on workplace conditions and health are increasingly basic to efforts to address the causes of long-term absences.
