02/27/2026
In response to newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that 5,070 workers died on the job in 2024—a decrease from the previous year—AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement:
The labor movement mourns each of the 5,070 workers who lost their lives on the job in 2024. Every one of these deaths is not only an invaluable life lost, but also brings immeasurable grief and hardship for families and communities. While it is a relief to see that number decrease in 2024, which took place during the Biden administration, let’s be clear: The number of annual workplace deaths should be zero. And now, the current administration’s billionaire-first agenda puts that progress in jeopardy.
The Trump administration has slashed worker safety rules, undermined the federal agencies that hold employers accountable, pushed out and disrupted the dedicated experts who inspect worksites for safety violations, and given handouts to big corporations and special interests actively working to weaken safeguards for workers. This government must enforce the workplace safety laws already on the books, fully staff and fund agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and empower OSHA inspectors to conduct investigations into unsafe workplaces.
At the AFL-CIO, we’re committed to preventing workplace deaths by demanding comprehensive and robust federal laws and safety guardrails to protect workers on the job. We will continue to oppose President Trump’s anti-worker agenda so every single worker can return home safely at the end of their shift.
Read: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-workplace-deaths-decreased-2024-trump-administration-threatens-progress
