The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published a new report on employer-reported workplace injuries and illnesses from 2023-2024, noting a total of 2.5 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2024, a drop of 3.1% from 2023.

This is the lowest number reported since 2003, driven by a 26% decrease in illness cases down to 148,000, which in turn was driven by a 46.1% decrease in respiratory illness cases down to 54,000. Respiratory illness rates fell to 5.1 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers, nearly half the 2023 rate.

This follows a heavy increase in respiratory illnesses in 2020, which fluctuated up and down for a few years before significant decreases were recorded in 2023. This reflects the prevalence of COVID-19, which is currently considered a respiratory illness by the BLS.