Workplace injury rates continue to decline overall, but the injuries that occur are growing more severe, costly, and time-consuming for recovery. New hires and older workers represent the biggest risk areas, according to Travelers’ latest “Injury Impact” report released on May 4, 2026. The analysis draws from more than 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims filed between 2021 and 2025. It shows that injured employees missed an average of 80 workdays per claim, despite the downward trend in injury frequency.
New Hires Drive a Large Share of Claims
First-year employees accounted for roughly 37% of all workplace injuries and 34% of total claim costs, resulting in more than 5 million missed workdays during the study period. The pattern is especially strong in high-turnover, labor-intensive industries:
- Restaurants: 51% of claims involved first-year workers
- Construction: 44%
- Retail: 39%
- Wholesale and professional services (legal, engineering, accounting): 38% each
- Transportation, finance, insurance, and real estate: 36% each
- Manufacturing: 31%
Recovery Times Vary Significantly by Sector
Construction workers experienced the longest average recovery time at 114 workdays per injury. Other notable figures include:
- Transportation: 94 days
- Professional services: 77 days
- Manufacturing: 76 days
Employees at small businesses missed an average of 86 workdays per injury—six days above the overall average.
Older Workers Face Longer Recoveries
Workers aged 60 and older made up 16% of lost-time claims and required an average of 97 workdays off per injury (17 days above the overall average). Their claims more frequently involved fractures and dislocations, which naturally take longer to heal.
Most Common Injuries
Across most industries, the top injured body parts were:
- Shoulder: 13% of claims
- Lower back: 11% of claims
- Knee: 11% of claims
The report underscores the importance of targeted safety training for new hires and ergonomic protections for aging workers as employers look to control rising workers’ compensation costs amid more complex and expensive claims.
Take Action
Moreton & Company helps businesses reduce these risks with targeted safety and loss prevention services, including new-hire safety training, hazard assessments, ergonomic programs for older workers, and supervisor leadership training. Clients who use our services consistently outperform the report’s averages—often cutting lost workdays by 25-40%, lowering experience mod factors, and reducing claim costs well below industry benchmarks
