Sick leave in Saxony: High numbers despite regional differences!

Sick leave in Saxony: High numbers despite regional differences!

What is currently happening in Saxony's health system? Sickness rates remain high and the differences between individual regions are notable. In the first half of 2025, employees in Saxony were absent an average of 13 calendar days. This is shown by a current evaluation by AOK Plus. What is particularly striking is the sickness rate of 6.9 percent among AOK Plus insured employees, which is slightly above the national average of 6.6 percent. While the lowest sickness rate was recorded in Dresden at 6.3 percent, employees in northern Saxony are struggling with 7.6 percent, the highest sickness rate in the region.[Sächsische.de reports that…]

But what is behind these numbers? More than half of the employees, exactly 56.4 percent, called in sick at least once in the first half of the year. The average duration of illness per case was 11.1 calendar days - a worrying value that points to the ongoing health challenges.[AOK reports on the situation in Saxony]

The most common causes of illness

It is also interesting to know which illnesses most often lead to reports of incapacity for work. Respiratory diseases dominate here with 27.3 percent of cases, followed by musculoskeletal diseases with 12.3 percent and digestive problems, which account for 7.6 percent. Mental illnesses account for 5.7 percent of sickness reports - a figure that has been in the public eye in recent years, especially in times of increased stress due to external factors.[Sächsische.de provides an overview of the most common diseases]

Long-term illnesses also represent a major problem: 3.8 percent of cases of incapacity to work last longer than six weeks, which accounts for around a third of all sick days (36.6 percent). This shows that many employees are struggling with serious and long-term health problems.[AOK analyzes long-term sick leave]

Changes over time

The numbers are not just opaque. The first half of 2025 shows that sickness levels remained stable compared to the previous year. February was particularly striking, as it traditionally sees a sharp increase in sickness reports - often due to the cold season and the associated colds. In Germany as a whole, respiratory diseases account for the largest proportion of days of incapacity for work, according to the latest surveys by DAK and Statista.[Statista provides information on the main causes of incapacity to work]

In summary, it can be said: Sickness levels in Saxony should not be underestimated and remain at a high level. Above all, the pronounced regional differences between Dresden and Northern Saxony show that more transparency and targeted health promotion are necessary here. It remains to be seen what measures will be taken to improve the situation and provide long-term support for employees in Saxony.