The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) has announced a reported decrease in sick leave to its lowest level in three years, reversed from a peak in 2024 where rates hit the highest in 15 years. In 2025, reported sick leave fell from 5.8% to 5.5%, while self-reported sick leave remained constant at 1%. The decline in sick leave is attributed to a broad range of demographics, particularly benefiting from initiatives aimed at improving health and workplace contributions.

Constituted director Eve Vangsnes Bergli expressed her satisfaction regarding the decline, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to maintain this positive trend, which allows more individuals to contribute their skills within the workforce. The first three quarters of the year saw the most significant declines before stabilization occurred towards the end. Bergli noted that the reductions were seen across all age groups and medical diagnoses, especially concerning the mental health issues that emerged during and following the pandemic.

The statistics reveal a notable reduction in sick leave among men, decreasing from 4.3% to 4.1%, while sick leave rates for women fell from 7.5% to 7.2%. Overall, a total of 32.7 million workdays were lost to reported sick leave in 2025, which is 1.1 million fewer days compared to the previous year. This drop signifies a commendable shift towards improved health within the workforce and highlights the effectiveness of ongoing support and health initiatives from NAV to tackle rising sick leave post-pandemic.