A survey for the Centre for Social Justice found that employees under 25 were far more likely than those aged 55 to 64 to take sick leave when they felt able to work. The findings add to debate about young people’s relationship with work, though wider evidence cited in the article suggests housing pressures, difficult job prospects and mental-health challenges may also affect attendance and engagement.

More than 80% of under-25s said they had taken such a sick day in the previous year, compared with 43% of workers aged 55 to 64; nearly 40% of younger respondents said they had done so on five days, against 10% of older staff. Tiredness was cited by almost 80% of under-25s and social reasons by just over half, while youth unemployment was 16.2% and nearly two-thirds of people in their early twenties were living with parents, according to figures quoted in the article.