U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Office of Publications & Special Studies

Illness-related work absences during flu season

Chart 1. Persons who usually work full time, but worked less than 35 hours during the survey reference week, by reason for absence, April 2005–March 2010
Date	Usual full-time worker who worked 1-34 hours due to other family or personal obligations	Usual full-time worker who worked 1-34 hours due to own illness, injury, or medical appointment
Apr 2005	720	2,144
May 2005	842	2,042
Jun 2005	689	1,664
Jul 2005	602	1,572
Aug 2005	687	1,508
Sep 2005	753	1,909
Oct 2005	744	1,929
Nov 2005	643	1,817
Dec 2005	723	2,306
Jan 2006	779	2,589
Feb 2006	867	2,863
Mar 2006	838	2,387
Apr 2006	618	1,669
May 2006	657	1,848
Jun 2006	819	1,624
Jul 2006	681	1,452
Aug 2006	774	1,462
Sep 2006	749	1,794
Oct 2006	756	1,843
Nov 2006	650	1,866
Dec 2006	725	2,514
Jan 2007	845	2,403
Feb 2007	921	2,389
Mar 2007	881	2,291
Apr 2007	741	2,028
May 2007	938	1,760
Jun 2007	677	1,573
Jul 2007	705	1,393
Aug 2007	679	1,492
Sep 2007	797	1,805
Oct 2007	711	1,815
Nov 2007	833	2,106
Dec 2007	858	2,388
Jan 2008	785	2,505
Feb 2008	838	3,257
Mar 2008	820	2,462
Apr 2008	771	2,137
May 2008	915	1,754
Jun 2008	777	1,555
Jul 2008	574	1,406
Aug 2008	662	1,543
Sep 2008	657	1,797
Oct 2008	666	1,703
Nov 2008	570	1,881
Dec 2008	660	2,254
Jan 2009	698	2,262
Feb 2009	828	2,592
Mar 2009	731	2,213
Apr 2009	590	1,722
May 2009	719	1,754
Jun 2009	786	1,586
Jul 2009	610	1,436
Aug 2009	575	1,357
Sep 2009(1)	428	1,053
Oct 2009	608	2,009
Nov 2009	510	1,809
Dec 2009	652	2,086
Jan 2010	755	2,306
Feb 2010(2)	648	1,951
Mar 2010	810	2,006
Footnotes: (1) Absences in this month were higher than normal in large part because the Labor Day holiday fell during the survey reference week. (2) Absences in this month were higher than normal in large part because there were record-breaking snowfalls along the east coast that closed businesses (including the federal government) for most of the week.
NOTE: Peak flu season—the months from December through March—are shaded for clarity. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.

These data featured in the ILS article, Illness-related work absences during flu season.