The average number of days people take in sick leave has dropped to an all-time record low, although stress-related conditions are on the up, according to a new survey.

Research by the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) and Jelf Employee Benefits suggests employees now take just 4.9 days off work per year because of illness.

EEF said the figures represented “big inroads” made in tackling short-term absences, but it added that longer bouts of sick leave were on the increase.

Two-thirds of companies reported it had increased in the last two years, with economic conditions and fall-out from the government’s austerity programme partly to blame, said EEF.

Professor Sayeed Khan, chief medical adviser at EEF, said: “Driving down absence rates, helping more employees return to work earlier and, encouraging their wellbeing is critical for our economy.

“But, despite employers increasing investment in managing sickness absence and, providing their employees with more health related benefits, the improvement in overall absence rates has more or less now plateaued.”