Key statistics for work-related injury and illness

Investing in pre-employment screening and a reputable workplace rehabilitation provider can protect your organisation from these statistics.

General statistics:

• In 2021-22, Australian Bureau of Statistics survey data showed that 497,300 of the 14.1 million people who had worked during the last 12 months (or 3.5% of the working population) experienced a work-related injury or illness.
  • Only one-third (34.9%) of these workers made a workers compensation claim.
• Compared with 10 years ago (2012-13), the number of serious claims has increased by 23,700 (or 20.5%).

2023-24 statistics:

• 139,000 serious claims were made in 2023.
• The claims incidence rate (the number of serious claims per thousand workers) was 10.7.
• The claims frequency rate (the number of serious claims per million hours worked) was 6.6.
• The median time lost due to work-related injury or illness was 7.2 weeks.
• The median compensation paid was $14,400.