Who’s Getting Hurt at Work? A Deep Dive Into America’s Most Dangerous Jobs

By Fresh News

Every day, millions of Americans head to work not knowing that their shift could end in an injury. Whether it’s lifting heavy boxes in a warehouse, long hours behind a register, or handling patients in a hospital, some jobs carry a much higher risk than others.

In 2023, more than 2.6 million non-fatal workplace injuries were reported in the private sector alone—a clear signal that we still have a long way to go when it comes to workplace safety.

At O’Connor Law, we crunched the numbers to find out who’s getting hurt, where it’s happening most, and what industries are carrying the highest risks. Spoiler: it’s not just the stereotypical “dangerous” jobs.

The Most Injury-Prone Industries

Some industries are just riskier by nature. Whether it’s physical labor, long hours, or fast-paced environments, these sectors see the highest number of reported injuries:

  • Healthcare & Social Assistance: 471,600 injuries
    • Hospitals: 185,000
    • Ambulatory care: 120,200
  • Retail Trade: 334,700 injuries
    • General merchandise: 88,900
    • Food & beverage stores: 78,200
  • Manufacturing: 326,400 injuries
    • Food manufacturing: 54,900
    • Transportation equipment: 51,700
  • Transportation & Warehousing: 255,400 injuries
    • Warehousing: 73,700
    • Couriers/messengers: 72,800
  • Food & Accommodation Services: 222,700 injuries
    • Food service: 169,600
    • Accommodation: 53,100

Healthcare workers often deal with sprains and strains from lifting patients and being on their feet all day. In warehousing and transportation, it’s all about overexertion, falls, and equipment accidents.

Who’s Getting Hurt?

Turns out, age matters when it comes to injury rates.

  • Ages 25–34: 493,180 injuries
  • Ages 35–44: 439,560 injuries
  • Ages 45–54: 432,390 injuries
  • Ages 55–64: 386,870 injuries
  • Ages 20–24: 239,180 injuries
  • Ages 16–19: 79,990 injuries

Middle-aged workers make up a big chunk of high-risk jobs, so they tend to report the most injuries. And while younger workers have fewer reported injuries, their inexperience puts them at higher risk overall.

Interestingly, women are more likely to experience non-fatal injuries, while men face a higher chance of fatal ones, likely due to the kinds of industries each gender predominantly works in.

Where Are the Most Dangerous States to Work?

Location plays a major role, too. Here are the states with the highest workplace injury numbers in 2023:

  • California: 363,900 injuries
  • Texas: 175,900
  • Illinois: 101,400
  • Ohio: 84,800
  • Washington: 81,600

These states have large populations and lots of high-risk industries like healthcare and transportation.

And here are the states with the lowest injury counts:

  • Wyoming: 4,600 injuries
  • Delaware: 7,200
  • Vermont: 7,900
  • Montana: 11,500
  • West Virginia: 12,300

Smaller workforces and stronger local safety regulations help keep numbers lower in these regions.

Skilled vs. Non-Skilled Jobs: Who’s Safer?

Jobs that don’t require formal training or certifications tend to see higher injury rates. These include:

  • Non-skilled sectors: Hospitality, retail, warehousing
  • Skilled sectors: Healthcare, finance, engineering

Skilled workers often undergo safety training and work in more regulated environments, which can reduce their injury risk.

Preventing Workplace Injuries

Despite the progress we’ve made, workplace injuries are still a serious issue. Since the creation of OSHA in 1970, workplace deaths and injuries have dropped by over 60%. But with millions of injuries still happening each year, there’s more to be done.

To prevent injuries, businesses should:

  • Provide strong employee safety training
  • Conduct regular hazard assessments
  • Follow OSHA standards consistently
  • Supply proper safety gear and PPE

Why This All Matters

At O’Connor Law, we believe no one should get hurt just for doing their job. Understanding the risks—by industry, age, location, and skill level—is a crucial first step toward making meaningful change.

Safer workplaces don’t just benefit employees—they improve productivity, reduce costs, and build trust. Every injury prevented is a worker protected, and that’s a goal worth working toward.