Average 15.4 days

More sick days, but fewer early retirees

The number of sick days increased slightly in 2023. Self-employed persons were on sick leave for an average of 15.4 days last year, half a day more (14.9 days) than in 2022. In contrast, the number of people in early retirement fell, with 4.7 percent fewer in 2023 than in the previous year.

The average duration of sick leave fell slightly to 9.3 days, according to data published by Statistics Austria on Friday by the umbrella organization of social insurance institutions.

Women on sick leave for longer
Women were on sick leave for an average of 16.2 days over the course of the year, 1.6 days longer than men. The most common reason for sick leave was a disease of the respiratory system (around 2.4 million cases), followed by infectious or parasitic diseases (715,852 cases) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (674,946 cases).

12,872 people took early retirement
In 2023, 12,872 people also took early retirement due to reduced capacity for work or permanent disability. This was 1.4 percent more than in 2022. However, the total number of people in early retirement fell by 4.7 percent in 2023.

Most people in early retirement are between the ages of 50 and 59, with more men (81,806 people) than women (38,096 people) in early retirement. The most common reason for early retirement in 2023 was mental illness and behavioral disorders.