A new research report analyzing federal injury data and industry automation forecasts projects that by 2030, automation will prevent nearly 161,000 workplace injuries annually across the United States. Couriers are projected to see significant safety improvements from automation, contributing to more than 6,000 injuries prevented annually across highly automatable industries, according to projections provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and World Economic Forum and released by Lamber Goodnow.
In fact, data estimates that 30% of current workplace tasks will be automated by 2030. Historically, every 10% increase in automation has corresponded with a nearly 2% decline in workplace injuries.
"The automation conversation often focuses only on job losses," says Marc Lamber, attorney and director at Lamber Goodnow. "But for industries like logistics, automation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about safety. Reducing injuries protects workers and lowers costs tied to insurance, turnover, and lost productivity."
Key takeaways:
- Couriers are one of the few industries that rank as both highly dangerous (7.9 annual injuries per 100 full-time workers) and a top source of overall injuries.
- Transportation and warehousing is projected to reduce its injury rate from 4.13 to 3.88 per 100 workers by 2030, a 6.2% drop, preventing nearly 13,690 injuries annually. With 31% of tasks expected to be automated, this sector shows measurable safety gains for frontline logistics workers.
- Workplace injuries are projected to decline by nearly 6% overall, reducing the burden on employers, workers’ compensation systems, and the healthcare sector.
- Broader industries such as restaurants are also expected to see notable reductions, with tens of thousands fewer injuries annually.
