Council worker absences at highest level as authorities urged to plan

The level of absence among council staff is at its highest level on record as local authorities have been urged to improve their workforce planning.

Figures released by the Accounts Commission on Thursday showed the absence rate among non-teacher staff rose to an average of 13.9 days in 2023-24 compared to 10.8 in 2010-11.

During the same time, the teacher absence rate increased from 6.6 days to 7.6 days.

In a report released on Thursday, the commission urged councils to plan their workforce into the future, especially given the current age of staff.

While the highest level of staff – 35% – are between 25 and 44, 27% of workers are between 45 and 54 and 29% are between the ages of 55 and 64 years old, according to the report.

The commission said: “Addressing rising sickness absence, embracing innovation and digital technology, and increased collaborative working will all be necessary to attract and retain staff, and ensure we all continue to benefit from a skilled and motivated local government workforce.”

Authorities should align their workforce plans with their own priorities, the report said.

The commission said councils are currently dealing with “clear and continuing financial pressures” and have to “transform how they deliver services” to cut costs.

“Auditors report that councils have responded positively to these challenges, but that further progress with workforce planning is still needed in light of continuing financial and demand pressures,” the report added.

Jennifer Henderson, a member of the Accounts Commission said: “We all benefit from a skilled and motivated local government workforce; staff are the most important resource that councils have.

“Councils must fundamentally reform how they deliver services, and Scotland’s 260,000 council workers are crucial to this.

“Councils need to align their existing workforce plans with their priorities so they can ensure their workforces are the right size and shape, and their staff have the skills they will need.

“In particular, they need to ensure workers have the digital skills necessary for the scale of changes ahead.

“We have seen many councils already responding to this challenge, and there are valuable opportunities for local bodies to learn from each other.”