What’s Up with Retail? NCCI Expert Looks at Frequency that Outpaces Other Industries

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -- Attendees at NCCI's Annual Insights Symposium this week heard multiple points of good news about the strength of workers' compensation, including the drop in frequency across all industry.

However, one industry, retail, is outpacing all others, leading Sandra Kipust to explore the trend in her "Industry Drill Down" Wednesday, a session she presented with Amanda Glish. While all industries have saw a 2.2% frequency decrease between 2015 and 2022, retail only declined by 0.4%.

Why? Kipust explained that things have changed a lot since COVID made its disruptive appearance. During the past few years, retail has seen:

+ An increase in quits, with the best, most experienced workers leaving retail jobs.
+ With an increase in quits has come a decrease in layoffs, meaning that the workers that are still on the job have less experience and knowledge on how to perform the work safely.
+ The work itself is change, as retail workers are now performing tasks that they didn't just a few years ago. For example, instead of standing at a single register, many retail workers are responsible for multiple self-checkout machines and fulfilling curbside orders.

Other factors that push frequency up in the retail space, as well as other industries, including newer workers working increased hours and performing multiple roles for employers, Kipust said.

Nonetheless, as far as workers' compensation is concerned, the picture is still a good one.

"Claim frequency has returned to long-term declines," Kipust said, "and the increased variability can be explained by employment trends."

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