Fatal Injuries Fell 3.7 Percent in 2023

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced in December that fatal occupational injuries fell from 5,486 in 2022 to 5,283 in 2023, a decrease of 3.7 percent. The rate of fatal work injuries in 2023 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time workers, compared to 3.7 per 100,000 in 2022.

Transportation incidents were the most frequent cause of fatal work injuries in 2023, accounting for 1,942 or 36.8 percent. Construction had the most fatal injuries of all industrial sectors with 1,075—the sector’s highest total since 2011—followed by transportation and warehousing with 930.

Transportation and material moving occupations were the occupational group with the most fatalities in 2023 with 1,495, which nevertheless represented a 7.7 percent decrease from 2022. The occupation with the highest rate of fatal injuries continued to be farming, fishing, and forestry, with 24.4 per 100,000 full-time workers, nearly twice the rate of the next highest sector, transportation and material moving.

For more information, visit the BLS website.