The annual leave report, conducted by HR systems specialist Access PeopleHR, analysed data from over 3,000 companies and found that the construction sector had seen the second-to-worst drop in annual leave taken from 2022-2023 (first being agriculture, forestry, and fishing with a drop of 11.85%).

On average, employees in the industry took 34 annual leave days in 2023 – down from 39 in 2022.

The annual leave report highlighted that some companies have struggled with challenges like staff shortages and increased workloads, which has made it difficult for employees to use their full annual leave entitlement.

Commenting on the findings, Charles Butterworth, managing director at Access People, said: “Workers across the UK are under a great deal of pressure with rising household expenses, work-related stress and personal commitments. It’s more important than ever that people take time off to rest and recharge – so that they can come back stronger.

“But taking holidays should never feel like it’s part of the job. As revealed in the report, the number of employees taking their full annual leave entitlement has declined in all industries.

“There could be many reasons for this, like poor planning, anxiety about falling behind, or a heavy workload. Ultimately, it’s our duty as employers to help our teams book time off, whether this is through regular reminders or implementing a simple and efficient booking system.”