AOK insured's sick leave slightly decreased - Saarland sees slight drop in sickness absences for 2025

Sickness-related absences in Saarland fell slightly in 2025, according to new data from health insurer AOK. The overall absence rate dropped to 6.9 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous year. Respiratory illnesses remained the leading cause of time off work, though long-term conditions still accounted for a significant share of lost days.

The highest absence rate was recorded in February, peaking at 8.7 percent. On average, each sick leave episode lasted 11.2 days—0.2 days shorter than in the prior period.

Respiratory illnesses topped the list of reasons for absence, making up 27.1 percent of cases. Musculoskeletal conditions followed closely at 19.0 percent, while mental health disorders accounted for 14.0 percent. Injuries were responsible for 8.8 percent of absences. Long-term illnesses continued to play a major role, contributing to 40.6 percent of all lost workdays. Over the past five years, mental health-related absences in Saarland rose more sharply than the national average, climbing from 2.8 percent to 4.2 percent of total absences. This increase was steeper than in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where rates reached 3.5–3.8 percent, but similar to trends in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, where figures exceeded 4 percent.

The overall decline in sickness absences suggests a slight improvement in workforce health. However, the persistent impact of long-term illnesses and the rising share of mental health-related absences highlight ongoing challenges. The data, sourced from AOK and the German statutory health insurance (DAK), provides a clear picture of current health trends in the region.