In total, 63 people died at work in 2023. This is a significant increase compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of workplace accidents leading to sick leave increased by eleven per cent compared to the previous year, according to statistics from the Work Environment Authority. The increases affect both women and men. Looking at age, it was boys and men between 16 and 24 years old who made the most reports.
The number of fatal accidents at work also increased significantly, and more often affect men than women. In 2023, 55 fatal accidents were reported within the Swedish workforce, which is 15 more than the previous year. Five fatal accidents were reported among people with foreign citizenship who worked in Sweden. Three people died in labour market measures or other activities covered by the Social Insurance Code.
It may be people who are interns or who work in the military, but are not part of the Swedish workforce, says Sonya Aho, press secretary at the Work Environment Authority.
At the same time, reports of occupational diseases decreased by 28 per cent, but it is still almost twice as common for women to be affected. This is alarming, according to Lars Lööw, Director-General of the Work Environment Authority.
"It is primarily women in healthcare and education who are affected by diseases caused by organisational and social factors, such as high workload, with little opportunity to influence their work and recover," he says in a press release.
