Civil servants took just over nine sick days on average last year - down almost a tenth on 2003 - figures show. A report for the Cabinet Office found the average sickness rate was 9.1 days per staff year, compared with 10 the year before.
The analysis was unveiled by minister Jim Murphy, who said work to cut absences was ongoing.
The government plans to axe 104,000 jobs to free money for education, health, defence, housing and aid.
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