The composition of workers’ compensation injuries by industry changed notably from the pre-pandemic period through the pandemic and into the post-pandemic years. This report focuses on changes in industry and differences by age, gender, worker tenure, and injury type. It also compares major cost components for injuries along these dimensions.

The findings provide insight into how the characteristics of injured workers and the industries in which injuries occur changed during a period of significant shifts in the workforce and economy. The analysis includes 8 million non-COVID-19 claims from injury years 2019 through 2024 across 31 states, representing approximately 83 percent of workers’ compensation benefits paid in the United States. The distribution and trends for COVID-19 claims are presented in a separate table.

Overview of Workers’ Compensation Claims Composition: A Recent Perspective—A WCRI FlashReport. Olesya Fomenko and Karen Rothkin. September 2026. FR-26-04.

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