The CBI has warned that high levels of absence among public sector workers cost the economy £4.1bn last year.

Research for the business organisation has shown that employees in the public sector took an average of three more days off than those in private firms in 2004.

Sir Digby Jones, CBI director general, said the new government must get to grips with a problem which is undermining public services.

The CBI's annual survey of absence at work revealed that public sector workers took an average of 9.1 days off compared with 6.4 in private companies.

And figures suggest that the cost of absence in the public sector could be cut by £1.2bn if the absence rate was the same as in private firms.

One of the worst government departments for absence was the Department for Work and Pensions.

Sir Digby said the findings would make worrying reading for the re-elected government.

"This growing problem is undermining promised public sector efficiency gains," he said.

"It is particularly depressing that the Department for Work and Pensions, which should be setting the example within government, is one of the worst performers.

"For the UK economy to succeed, both the private and the public sector must pull their full weight."

Long-term absence, lasting 20 days or more, was responsible for 57 per cent of total public sector absence.

Dudley Lusted, head of corporate healthcare development at AXA, which helped with the research, said the level of absence in the public sector was a serious management issue.

"A healthy dose of inspirational leadership would be a start and, by creating a more positive environment, would certainly help to cut short-term absence," Lusted said.

"It's unforgivable that long-term spells account for over half of the public sector's lost working time when we know that early intervention and rehabilitation can have such a positive effect."

But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the figures did not represent the picture accurately.

"The CBI wants us to think that public sector workers are too ready to throw a sickie and take a few days off whenever they feel like it," he said.

"But more serious analysis of absence statistics shows the exact opposite.

"Public sector workers are less likely to take short periods off work ill than their colleagues in the private sector."

Barber added that for absences of five days or fewer, the average private sector worker takes 5.5 days off sick, while public sector workers take 4.9 days.

"The average figure for public sector workers is higher only because more public sector workers take long term sick leave, much of which will have been caused by injuries on duty," he said.

"This is not surprising given the dangerous and stressful nature of public sector jobs like police, firefighting and nursing."