Workers' Comp Claims Show Injuries Growing More Complex Despite Decline

Declining Injury Rates with Increased Complexity

According to Safety+Health Magazine, a new report from The Travelers Cos. indicates that although workplace injury rates are declining, the injuries that occur are growing more complex and taking longer to heal, based on data from more than 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims submitted from various businesses and industries between 2021 and 2025. Claude Howard, vice president of workers’ compensation claims at Travelers, stated in a press release that injured workers are still missing an average of 80 workdays. This trend is driven by an aging workforce and the disproportionate vulnerability of first-year employees, as noted in the 2026 Injury Impact Report.

Industry-Specific Impacts

The report highlights that workers in construction who were injured missed an average of 114 workdays, while injured transportation workers missed an average of 94 days; for professional services and manufacturing, the figures were 77 and 76 days, respectively. Injured employees at small businesses missed an average of 86 days, according to the analysis. First-year employees accounted for around 37% of the injuries and 34% of overall claims costs, with these employees also representing 51% of restaurant injuries, 46% of those at small businesses, and 44% in construction.

Vulnerable Worker Groups

Workers 60 and older represented 16% of all lost-time claims and missed an average of 97 days, underscoring the role of an aging workforce in prolonged absences, as per the report from The Travelers Cos. First-year employees’ high involvement in claims reflects their disproportionate vulnerability, contributing significantly to both injury counts and costs. According to Safety+Health Magazine, this data emphasizes patterns in workers’ compensation trends without introducing new elements.

Employer Strategies for Mitigation

The report suggests that employers can protect new hires by identifying workplace risks, improving safety controls, and defining safe work practices. Chris Hayes, assistant vice president of workers’ compensation risk control at Travelers, stated in the release that the majority of workplace accidents can be prevented, positioning risk management as a key support for employees. Widely known in safety management, effective risk controls can reduce claim frequencies, though this report specifically ties such measures to first-year employee protection.