Absences from work due to factors such as temporary layoffs, illness, family leave and holidays were up nearly 20% in the year to the end of September, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today.
In total, 303,200 people - or 12.3% of the workforce - were absent from work during the third quarter, up from 11.3% or 253,800 in the same period last year.
However, the latest Labour Force Survey found that there was also a 9.8% increase in employment during the three month period.
The two factors together resulted in an increase of 6% or 4.3 million additional hours being worked a week between July and the end of September, the survey found.