Work-related Fatality Trends

Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate a 5% rise in preventable deaths, from 4,472 in 2021 to 4,695 in 2022. This corresponds to a 4% growth in the workforce, from 153,691,000 in 2021 to 159,379,000 in 2022. Consequently, the death rate increased 3%, from 3.1 per 100,000 workers in 2021 to 3.2  in 2022. This marks a significant departure from the levels observed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (4,113). While initial disruptions observed during the pandemic resulted in a decrease in reported rates, the latest trends in 2021 and 2022 suggest a return to pre-pandemic levels. Noteworthy is the increase in homicides and suicides (excluded from preventable-injury estimates), rising 10% from 651 in 2020 to 718 in 2021, and a further 10% to 791 in 2022.

  • Chart
  • Data Table
  • Chart
  • Data Table

Source: Deaths are from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Employment is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and is based on the Current Population Survey. All other data are National Safety Council (NSC) estimates.

Note: Starting in 2008, BLS moved from employment-based rates to hours-based rates to measure fatal injury risk per standardized length of exposure, which are generally considered more accurate than employment-based rates. Caution should be used when comparing with rates prior to 2008.

See data details