Detailed nonfatal data starting in 2023-2024
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has transitioned from an annual to a biennial (every two years) publication schedule. The final publication of a single year of cases involving days away from work estimates was for reference year 2020. The most recent BLS detailed data cover 2023 and 2024 for Days Away from Work (DAFW), Days of Job Transfer or Restriction (DJTR), and Days Away from Work, Job Restriction, or Transfer (DART) cases.
New event categories starting in 2023
The BLS has updated the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System starting with the 2023 data year. The update includes changes to how injury and illness events are classified. This change is considered a data break, therefore, comparing counts to previous years is often unavailable and, when available, should be done with caution. Currently, 2024 fatality data are using the new classification categories, while the most recent nonfatal 2023-2024 data use the previous classification categories.
Not Reporting Race or Ethnic Origin is Increasing
As discussed on the Brief tab, several data limitations affect our ability to understand the risks faced by workers in different race or ethnic origin groups. The primary limitation is that over 48% of nonfatal cases involving days away from work in 2023-2024 did not include race or ethnic origin information. Non-reporting of race or ethnic origin is getting worse, steadily increasing from 37.2% in 2011. Because of this issue, all nonfatal estimates available are likely underestimating the actual number of injuries and illnesses in a particular race or ethnic origin group.
- Chart
- Data Table
Comparing the nonfatal injury and illness experience among the largest race or ethnic origin groups, there are some notable differences:
- Year with most annualized DAFW cases:
- 2011 for White workers
- 2020 for Hispanic or Latino workers
- 2020 for Black or African-American workers
- 2020 for Asian workers
- 2021-2022 Multiple race (not-Hispanic or Latino)
- Age of worker experiencing the most DAFW and DART cases in 2023-2024:
- 25 to 34 for White workers
- 25 to 34 for Hispanic or Latino workers
- 35 to 44 for Black or African-American workers
- 35 to 44 for Asian workers
- Length of service experiencing the most DAFW and DART cases:
- One to five years for White workers
- One to five years for Hispanic or Latino workers
- One to five years for Black or African-American workers
- More than five years for Asian workers
The data on nonfatal cases cover occupational injuries and illnesses and come from the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) for 2011-2024. From 2011 through 2020, annual estimates are available for the number of DAFW cases (with or without days of restricted work activity). Starting in 2021, biennial estimates are available for DAFW, DJTR, and DART cases. This page highlights both DAFW and DART estimates. The latest estimate period available reflects cases occurring in 2023 and 2024. Because DAFW data transitioned from annual reporting to biennial reporting in 2021, care should be used when comparing trends.
Data are presented for the sex, age, length of service, and occupation of the worker, as well as for the nature of the injury or illness, the source of the injury or illness, part of body, and the event or exposure that produced the injury or illness. Use the filters to select the workers’ race or ethnic origin of interest and the injury measure to view:
- DAFW cases
- DART cases
- Chart
- Data Table
Source: NSC analysis of BLS data