After a decline in 2025, sick leave is rising again
In the second quarter of 2026, the overall seasonally adjusted sickness absence rate in Norway was 6.7%. In the previous quarter it was 6.6%.
SSB emphasizes that the increase is small, but the rate has been rising for the third consecutive quarter.
The year 2024 still serves as a reference point. It was then that absence reached the highest level in about 15 years. In 2025 the situation improved, but in the first half of 2026 the trend turned slightly upward again.
Check the current sickness absence statistics at SSB
There are not many new sick cases. Sick leaves are lasting longer
This is one of the most important conclusions from NAV's data.
In the second quarter of 2026, more than 7.8 million workdays were lost due to doctor-issued sick notes. That is over 200,000 more than a year earlier.
NAV, however, indicates that the increase is not primarily due to a larger number of people on sick leave.
People who are already ill stay out of work longer on average.
This is important, because a long sick leave increases the risk of a more difficult return to work.
Mental health problems are becoming an increasingly large part of absence
The largest group of reasons for sick leave remain musculoskeletal disorders.
In second place, however, are mental disorders and problems, and it is this group that has grown the most in recent years.
In the second quarter of 2026, mental health problems accounted for more than 2.2 million lost workdays, or about 28% of days covered by medical sick leave.
NAV also states that almost half of this group consists of problems classified as:
psychological symptoms, burnout and reactions to stressful events.
After a decline in 2025, absence related to mental health problems rose again and approached the record level from 2024.
Women still take sick leave more often
For medical sick leave, the rate in the second quarter of 2026 was:
7.5% among women
and
4.1% among men.
The highest level was recorded among women aged 30–34 years – 9.1%.
NAV does not attribute this to a single cause. The statistics are influenced, among other things, by employment structure, the type of work, health, pregnancy and social factors.
Health care and social services have the highest sickness absence
The highest rate of medical sick leave was recorded in the sector health and social services, that is, health care and social services.
In the second quarter of 2026 it was 8.4%.
This is also significant for Poles in Norway, because many people from our community work in care, nursing homes, hospitals and other health services.
A record number of partial sick leaves
There is also a positive sign.
As much as 31% of medical sick leaves in the second quarter of 2026 were partial sick leaves, i.e. partial sick leave.
This is the highest share since such measurements began. A year earlier it was just under 29%.
Gradert sykmelding means that an employee can be, for example, on 50% sick leave, and during the remaining time still work.
NAV emphasizes that maintaining contact with the workplace can reduce the risk of a long-term exit from the labor market.
What do these data mean for the employee?
The statistics themselves do not change the rules of sykepenger.
They do, however, show why quick action is increasingly important when health problems begin to affect work.
If the illness may be related to working conditions, overload, stress or the organization of the position, it is not worth waiting for months.
At Twoja Norwegia we have a separate guide:
Internal link: „Illness caused by work? Norway changes the rules. Check what to do step by step”
If, however, you fall ill while staying in Poland:
Internal link: „Illness while staying in Poland – what about sick leave, the employer and NAV?”
Has Norway already returned to the record from 2024?
No.
It is important not to leave the old headline unexplained.
2024 was a record year in terms of high absence. In 2025 there was a decline, and in the first half of 2026 we see a renewed, but so far small, increase.
The problem has not disappeared.
Its character has changed, however. Particularly worrying are longer sick leaves and a renewed increase in absence related to mental health.
Information status checked: 25 September 2026.
Sources
SSB – Sykefravær, data for Q2 2026 – official statistics.
NAV – Increased sickness absence in the first half, 3 September 2026 – official data on sick leaves, diagnoses and length of absence.
