The Dutch absenteeism rate fell to 3.7% in the second quarter of this year, as fewer workers took time off sick.

In 2013, the absenteeism rate averaged 4%, the national statistics office CBS is quoted as saying by news agency ANP. The decline may be due to the economic situation, the CBS said.

The rate was highest in education and lowest in the hospitality industry. However, the hospitality industry figure may be affected by the trend towards zero hour contracts, which do not require employers to pay staff sick pay, the CBS said.

In total, 821,000 people were claiming some form of incapacity benefit by the end of the first quarter. The Netherlands has five incapacity benefit schemes: WIA, WAO, Wajong, Wet Wajong and WAZ.