MadyHR.ai Free Resources

Free Absence Rate Calculator

See what share of your team's scheduled work time was lost to absence, and how it compares with the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

FREE
No sign-up
Web-based only: nothing you type is saved
BLS 2025 benchmarks

Your absence rate

Example figures

3.57%

1.87 points above the U.S. benchmark

Your team lost 9 of 252 scheduled days to absence. The BLS 2025 lost worktime rate for all full-time workers was 1.7%.

Compare with (BLS 2025 lost worktime rate)

Total scheduled days: 252
Total days lost: 9
Average lost per employee: 0.75 days
Attendance rate: 96.43%

How we worked it out

Employees12
× scheduled days each21
= total scheduled days252
Days lost ÷ total scheduled9 ÷ 252
× 100 = absence rate3.57%

Benchmark: BLS Current Population Survey, Table 47 (2025 annual averages). An estimate for general information only.

Important: please read

This calculator gives an estimate for general information only. It is not legal, HR, tax or financial advice, and MadyHR.ai is not a law firm. The result depends entirely on the numbers you enter, and we take no responsibility for decisions made using it.

Some absences are protected by law. FMLA leave cannot be counted under a no-fault attendance policy (29 CFR 825.220(c)), and disability-related leave may need to be treated as a reasonable accommodation (EEOC guidance). Some states and cities also have their own sick leave rules, so check with your state labor office or a qualified professional before acting on any absence figure.

How the absence rate is worked out

The absence rate is the share of scheduled work time that was lost because employees were absent.

Absence rate = (time lost to absence ÷ total scheduled time) × 100

Total scheduled time is the number of employees multiplied by the time each was scheduled to work. Use the same unit, days or hours, for both figures. For example, 12 employees scheduled for 21 days each gives 252 scheduled days. If 9 days were lost, the absence rate is 9 ÷ 252 × 100 = 3.57%.

The national figure this tool compares with is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls the lost worktime rate: hours absent as a percent of hours usually worked. BLS Table 47

U.S. benchmarks for 2025

These are national averages for full-time wage and salary workers. They come from a household survey, so treat them as a rough guide rather than a target for your business. BLS Table 47

BLS lost worktime rates and absence rates, 2025, by group
Group (full-time workers)	Lost worktime rate	Share with an absence
All full-time workers	1.7%	3.2%
Private sector	1.6%	3.0%
Public sector	2.2%	4.2%
Management, professional and related	1.6%	3.0%
Service occupations	1.9%	3.7%
Sales and office	1.7%	3.5%
Natural resources, construction and maintenance	1.6%	2.9%
Production, transportation and material moving	1.8%	3.4%

The 2025 figures are 11-month averages. BLS did not collect October 2025 data because of the federal government shutdown, so they are not strictly comparable with other years. BLS Table 47

What to count as absence

BLS counts absence when a usual full-time worker works fewer than 35 hours in a week because of their own illness or injury, child care problems, other family or personal obligations, civic or military duty, or maternity or paternity leave. Vacation, personal days and holidays are left out. BLS Table 47

To compare like with like, count those same types of absence in this calculator and leave out planned vacation and paid holidays.

Keep FMLA leave in a separate count if you use absence figures in an attendance policy. FMLA leave cannot be counted under no-fault attendance policies. 29 CFR 825.220(c)
Learn who is covered and how FMLA leave works. U.S. Department of Labor, FMLA
Employees with disabilities may need leave as a reasonable accommodation, and a fixed limit on absences may need to be adjusted for them. EEOC

Frequently asked questions

Should I use days or hours?

Use hours if your team works shifts of different lengths or part-time hours, because it gives a more exact figure. Use days if everyone works similar full days. If you switch between the two, the calculator converts your numbers using the hours in a workday.

What is a good absence rate?

There is no legal target. The BLS national lost worktime rate for full-time workers was 1.7% in 2025, 1.6% in the private sector and 2.2% in the public sector. BLS Table 47 Watch your own trend over several months, as one bad flu season can move a small team's rate a lot.

Why does BLS show two different rates?

The absence rate counts how many full-time workers had an absence in the survey week (3.2% in 2025). The lost worktime rate measures hours lost as a share of hours usually worked (1.7% in 2025). This calculator measures time lost, so it compares with the lost worktime rate. BLS Table 47

Does the pay cost include everything?

No. It multiplies the absent hours by the average hourly pay you enter. It does not include overtime for cover, temporary staff, payroll taxes, benefits or lost output.

Is my information saved?

No. The calculator is web-based only and works entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to MadyHR.ai or stored.