Fatal work injuries declined in 2024

Each year on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day honors the memory of those who lost their lives, sustained injuries, or became disabled because of their work. A total of 5,070 workers died from on-the-job injuries in the United States in 2024, a 4.0-percent drop from the 5,283 recorded in 2023. 

Construction had the most private industry workplace deaths at 1,034 in 2024, down 3.8 percent from 1,075 in the prior year. Transportation and warehousing followed with 865 fatalities in 2024, a 7.0-percent decline from 930 in 2023. Retail trade (down 15.7 percent to 258) and wholesale trade (down 18.1 percent to 145) both had sizable decreases. Manufacturing workplace deaths dropped 9.7 percent to 353.

Transportation incidents were the deadliest event category in 2024, claiming 1,937 lives. Falls, slips, and trips were the second highest at 844 deaths, down from 885 in 2023. Contact incidents accounted for 756 fatalities, while violent acts—including homicides (470) and suicides (263)—resulted in a total of 733 deaths.

The steepest decline came in the exposure to harmful substances or environments category which fell 16.2 percent from 820 to 687 deaths. This decline was driven by a decrease in fatal drug and alcohol overdoses, which were down from 512 in 2023 to 410 in 2024.

These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more about fatal injuries, see “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2024” We also have more charts on fatal work injuries and illnesses.