Teachers' absence during the covid-19 pandemic
Higher absences among compulsory school teachers during the pandemic
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2024-03-19 8.00
The total absences among compulsory school teachers increased with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. The absences peaked in autumn 2021, 34 per cent higher than the average for the last two autumn semesters prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In number of days, this means around 10 days of absence per teacher during the spring semester 2020 and spring semester 2022.
However, the picture differs among upper secondary school teachers. Their absence was lower during the first three semesters of COVID-19, compared to the pre-pandemic period. The difference was largest in the spring semester 2021, when absence was 27 per cent lower than in spring semester 2019. Thereafter, the absence rose and during the 2021/2022 academic year it was higher than before the pandemic.
“Teachers’ total absences have been different before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The absence also differs between compulsory school and upper secondary school teachers. One explanation is that upper secondary schools used remote teaching to a greater extent than compulsory schools. Another factor is that upper secondary school teachers were able or obligated to work from home to a greater extent," says Sinisa Sauli at Statistics Sweden.
Unqualified external substitutes teachers in compulsory schools
In a previous survey, head teachers were asked how their schools handled teacher absences before and during the pandemic. It was more common for compulsory schools to use unqualified external substitutes in the absence of regular teachers. At upper secondary schools, it was more common for, existing qualified teachers to substitute. There are no significant differences between the period before and during COVID-19 pandemic.
Absence consists of sick pay and sickness benefits
The majority of the total absence among teachers consists of sick pay and sickness benefit. 80 per cent of total absence in compulsory schools, and 84 per cent in upper secondary schools, consist of sick pay or sickness benefits. The remainder consists of temporary parental’ benefits for childcare, pregnancy benefits or temporary parental benefits related to the birth or adoption of the child.
More results
The report about teachers’ absence is part of Statistics Sweden's continuation on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Swedish schools and complements existing statistics. In 2021 and 2022, Statistics Sweden conducted two surveys on the amount of remote teaching in compulsory school and upper secondary school. The report on teachers’ absence also includes results from the two prior surveys.
Definitions and explanations
The statistics include all teachers in compulsory schools and upper secondary schools who are included in the register of teaching personnel, one or more years during the period 2018–2022. The register is produced annually, with a measurement date of 15 October.
Otherwise, the statistics are based on existing registers available at Statistics Sweden. Besides data from the register of teaching personnel, the statistics are based on data sent to Statistics Sweden by the Social Insurance Agency and on data from Statistics Sweden’s short-term statistics in sick pay.
Before producing the statistics, the material has been processed and reviewed. For more information see the report (see link below). In addition to the report, the statistics are presented as tables in Excel.
Publication
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.