Are employment shifts into non-manufacturing industries partially responsible for the decline in occupational injury rates?

Background: Bureau of Labor Statistics figures have shown declines in injury and illness rates over the past 25 years. It is unclear what factors are contributing to that decline. Methods: Connecticut injury and illness data was industry-adjusted to account for the shifts in employment by industry sector for the 25-year period from 1976 to 2000. Additional adjustment was made for manufacturing sub-sectors, since declines in manufacturing employment accounted for the largest proportion of the shift in injuries over that period. Results: Approximately 18% of the decline in injury and illness rates was associated with a shift in employment from more hazardous to less hazardous industries. Shifts in manufacturing sub-sectors accounted for an additional 5.7% of the decline. Conclusion: A significant proportion of the decline in injury and illness rates appears to be due to demographic shifts in industry composition.