The bar chart compares the outcomes of three different surveys, which show the main reasons for absenteeism in a particular European country in 2000, 2005 and 2010.
Overall, although illness experienced a considerable decline, it still remained as the most widespread reason for absenteeism. While stress and unexpected problems related to traffic and weather conditions underwent considerable fluctuations, family responsibilities merely decreased. Notably, person needs, such as appointments, increased consistently in all three timeframes.
Regarding the illness, It decreased noticeably, whilst remaining the frontrunner amongst other reasons. In 2000, the figures for this reason accounted for approximately 44%, which decreased to 40% by 2005, before further declining to 35% in 2010. Moreover, the rates for family responsibilities followed a relatively similar pattern, slightly decreasing from around 27% in 2000 to 25% in 2005, and remaining unchanged by 2010.
By contrast, the figures for person needs increased continuously. Initially, the rates for this factor accounted for roughly 13%, which rose considerably to 20% by 2005, prior to reaching its ever-highest point at approximately 23% in 2010.
Stress, on the other hand, followed a completely different trend. The figures for this factor first dipped from just above 5% in 2000 to nearly 4% in 2005, before recovering to around 13% by 2010. Similarly, the statistics for unexpected problems experienced noticeable fluctuations, initially rising from roughly 8% in 2000 to just under 15% by 2005, prior to merely decreasing to about 13% in 2010.