Workers' Comp Spending a Sign of Economic Recovery

As greater numbers of workers gained coverage under workers’ compensation in 2012, employers’ costs for insurance and benefits paid also continued to rise, according to a study released today by the National Academy of Social Insurance. But, the report found, both the number of covered workers and program spending remain below pre-recession amounts. In 2012, the latest year for which complete data is available, worker’s compensation systems covered an estimated 127.9 million workers, an increase of 1.6% over 2011, but still fewer than the number of covered workers in 2008. ...