The Travelers Companies has released its 2025 Injury Impact Report, analyzing workers compensation claims filed over the past decade.
Drawing from more than 2.6 million claims, the report compares data from the five years before the COVID-19 pandemic to the five years following, highlighting shifting trends in workplace injury frequency and associated costs.
While the total number of workplace injuries has declined, Travelers found that the costs tied to these injuries have increased. According to Rich Ives (pictured above), senior vice president of business insurance claims at Travelers, three notable workforce trends – higher retirement ages, employee turnover, and extended recovery times – are contributing to rising claim severity.
“Our aim with this report is to provide employers with insights on these dynamics that are contributing to growing claim severity so they can better navigate these workforce challenges, protect their employees and keep their businesses running,” Ives said.
Travelers reported a reduction in workers compensation claim frequency over the past decade. The company reviewed 1.2 million claims submitted between 2020 and 2024, compared to 1.4 million claims filed from 2015 to 2019.
Analysis of the underlying causes of injuries revealed that certain types remain persistent and costly. Overexertion accounted for 29% of claims, while slips, trips, and falls represented 23%, and injuries resulting from being struck by an object made up 12%.
Notably, slips, trips, and falls were among the leading sources of severe claims, with losses exceeding $250,000. These figures suggest that while injury frequency is declining, the nature of workplace incidents continues to carry significant financial implications.
The report also addresses the impact of workforce turnover. Travelers observed that employees in their first year of employment remain particularly vulnerable to injury.
During the past five years, first-year employees accounted for approximately 36% of all workplace injuries and 34% of overall claim costs. In the prior five-year period, first-year employees made up 34% of injuries and 32% of claim costs, indicating an upward trend.
The prevalence of first-year employee injuries varies by industry. In the restaurant sector, 53% of claims involved employees in their first year, contributing to 47% of total claim costs.
The construction industry reflected similar patterns, with first-year employees accounting for nearly half of all injury claims and 52% of the industry's claim costs. These figures highlight the elevated risk associated with newer employees in labor-intensive fields.
The data further reflects a changing demographic in the workplace. Projections from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that by 2033, about 24% of employees will be 55 years or older, up from 15% in 2003.
Correspondingly, Travelers found that employees aged 50 and older represented 41% of injury claims during the past five years, compared with 39% in the preceding period. Employees aged 60 and above comprised 16% of injury claims, rising from 13% over the same comparison. Although older employees are less frequently injured, they tend to experience longer recovery periods and higher claim costs.
According to the report, the average number of missed workdays per injury rose to 80 days between 2020 and 2024, an increase of more than seven days compared to the prior five-year timeframe.
Injured employees aged 60 and above missed an average of nearly 97 workdays, exceeding the overall average by nearly 17 days and increasing by 14 days from pre-pandemic levels.
Chris Hayes, assistant vice president of workers compensation and transportation, risk control, at Travelers, noted that analyzing claim data helps identify injury trends by frequency, severity, and cause.
“Taking these steps can help employees feel valued and supported, which is key to maintaining a motivated, safe and healthy workforce,” Hayes said.
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