Occupational class differences in long sickness absence: a register-based study of 2.1 million Finnish women and men in 1996-2013.

Sickness absence prevalence is currently slightly lower in almost all occupational classes than in the mid-1990s, but occupational class differences have remained large. Ill health and poor working conditions especially in the lower occupational classes should be targeted in order to reduce sickness absence and to achieve longer working lives.