Comparative Data of Absence due to Sickness in Nordic Countries

Recently the rate of absence due to sickness has been very high in Norway. In the year 2002 almost 7.7 percent of the total work force was absent due to sickness. A shortcoming of empirical studies on international comparison is that they use survey data. These data are neither based on the same sort of samples nor do they consider the differences in definitions and sick leave systems of different countries This report gives an account of comparable register data available in Nordic countries. The data reported for Norway and Sweden can be used to control for the differences in definitions and sick leave systems in these counties.