The given chart illustrates the data on the reasons for absenteeism from work in a European country in the years 2000,2005 and 2010.
Overall, illness remained the most common reason for absenteeism, but its share declined steadily over the decade. Stress moved in the opposite direction, increasing sharply and becoming a more prominent factor by 2010. In contrast, family responsibilities and personal needs fell slightly, while unexpected problems rose in the middle of the period before falling again.
In 2000 nearly 45% of workers reported illness as a reason for not going to work, which was far higher than the second most common cause, family responsibilities at around 25%. Personal needs accounted for just 20%, while stress and unexpected problems were less common , at roughly 10%. This figure for illness dropped to around 40% in 2005, still double the second share of second most common cause, family responsibilities, at just over 20%.
By 2010, illness fell further to approximately 35%, narrowing the gap with stress, which had climbed sharply. Stress was the least cited reason in 2000 at about 7-8%, far below personal needs around 19% and unexpected problems about 12%. However, it rose to roughly 13% in 2005, coming close to unexpected problems, and then jumped to 20% in 2010, overtaking both personal needs and unexpected problems to become the second most common reason for absenteeism. Personal needs remained relatively stable, accounting for around 18-19% in both 2000 and 2005, before dipping slightly to 17% in 2010. Family responsibilities declined steadily from just over a quarter in 2000 to around 21-22% in 2005, and then to 20% in 2010. Unexpected problems increased from about 12% in 2000 to 14-15% in 2005, before easing to around 13% at the end of the period.