Why do the Islands have the lowest absenteeism in the State?
PalmaThe increase in labor absenteeism across the State has shaken the news in recent weeks. Especially, since the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said it is "a cancer we cannot afford" and, later, that the criticism for these words were "the same to him". But the labor market in the Balearic Islands, on this issue, is going its own way: the Archipelago currently has the lowest absenteeism rate in Spain, 5.9% above the number of employed in the first quarter of 2026. If only temporary disability leave is counted, the percentage is even lower: 4.3%. Why this happens is an unknown for the Government.
These are the data from the latest report by the Randstad group, which places the absenteeism rate in Spain at an average of 7.2%. The Islands were also the community with the least absenteeism in the State according to the company's studies for the fourth quarter of 2025 (with 6%) and 2024 (5.7%). The figures are an approximation, as the latest study by the Addecco group – from 2025 – slightly increases the absenteeism rate to 7.6% in Spain and 6.2% in the Islands, which, however, remain at the bottom of the State. Addecco also quantified the economic impact: 1,123 million euros in 2025 in the Islands, 59,109 million euros in the State. The Ministry of Labor has not yet made the official data public.
Industry, the most affected sector
Randstad's reports are limited to analyzing the major sectors and do not specifically focus on tourism, the main economic and labor market driver of the Islands. However, the reports identify that the sector with the highest absenteeism rate in the State is industrial (7.4%), followed by services (which includes hospitality, with 7.2%) and construction (6%). The Ministry of Labor also does not have a clear understanding of why the percentage decreases in the Islands. Sources from the department emphasize that, despite being at the bottom of the State, "the figures remain high": "We are promoting policies so that companies can create healthier work environments and promote work-life balance (...). This contributes to generating stable work environments".
The professor of Labor Law and Social Security at the UIB, María del Mar Crespí Ferriol, analyzed the causes of absenteeism in Spain in an academic article in The Conversation. From a health perspective, she relates it to the "aging of the working population, the increase in chronic diseases, and the growth of mental health problems". Also to working conditions: "high work intensity, irregular hours, and psychosocial risks" such as stress, harassment, and burnout can increase absenteeism. From this point on, the possibility of gradually returning to work while workers recover their health can also reduce absences. Crespí adds a final element to the equation: stability. "When the risk of dismissal is high and finding another job is difficult, workers are more reluctant to request a medical leave," she explains.
The labor lawyer José Manuel Raya explains that “for years the causes of absenteeism have been debated” and are difficult to track: “The communities with the most absenteeism are the Basque Country, Asturias, and the Canary Islands, with economic models and characteristics that have nothing to do with each other”. There are no conclusive studies in this regard. Regarding the Islands, he believes that an explanation could be found in the difficulties that employers in the tourism sector have in finding workers. “Unlike other places like the Canary Islands – in third place in the ranking with 8.9% absenteeism – the workload in the hotel sector of the Islands is not so excessive,” he considers. In this territory, “if you don't offer a good salary, rest, and a reasonable workload, the workers leave,” continues the lawyer: “This may be related to absenteeism”. Likewise, Raya points out another element that can reduce absenteeism, the efficiency of the health system. But in this area, the Islands have longer waiting lists than the state average: 145 days on average (126 in Spain), according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.
Low productivity
Beyond absenteeism, however, the Government identifies other challenges in the Balearic economy. The Director General of Economy and Statistics of the Government, Catalina Barceló, explains that the territory has lost competitive strength and presents structural challenges. According to Barceló, labor productivity stands at 36.7 euros per hour worked, a figure higher than the Spanish average of 34 euros: although it maintains a certain advantage, productivity has grown by 16% in recent years, an increase slightly lower than the 17% recorded at the state level. “20 years ago we were clearly above Spain, and now we have lost strength,” she says.
Furthermore, capital productivity – which refers to investments, real estate, spaces, and technology – has suffered a decline compared to the rest of Spain. “We have a structural problem related to the well-being of citizens, productivity, and per capita GDP,” points out Barceló. According to data from the department, per capita GDP has been reduced by approximately 3.2% between 2002 and 2024, as demographic growth has been higher than that of GDP. A negative dynamic that contrasts with that of the rest of Spain, where per capita income has indeed increased. Faced with these difficulties, Barceló prescribes “containment in volume” in the tourism sector and “betting on value”. “It’s not about working more hours, but about the hours you work being of higher quality,” she concludes.
