Younger workers injured more often than those nearing retirement: Study

July 18, 2024

The proportion of work-related injuries among newly hired workers increased from 2017 to 2022, with workers under 25 reporting more frequent injuries than those 55 and older, according to a report released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The report, which analyzed 8.4 million non-COVID-19 claims across 31 states, found that work injuries among workers with shorter tenure increased from 18% to 23% during the study period, the report states.

Five industries accounted for nearly three out of every four work injuries between 2017 and 2022, and 21% of all workplace injuries were for workers at or nearing retirement age, according to a report released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Researcher Institute. Those five industries are wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, services, health care and social assistance, and transportation, warehousing and utilities.

The most frequent injuries highlighted in the report were for sprains and strains at 37%, and lacerations and contusions at 26%. The latter accounted for nearly two-thirds of all compensable injuries.

Researchers also looked at trends between genders, finding that the proportion of injuries attributable to men increasing “significantly” in the clerical, professional and health care sectors, and the proportion of injuries among female workers increasing “noticeably” in agriculture, transportation and utilities.