Wyoming has the most dangerous workplaces in the United States when fatal injuries are measured per capita, according to a new analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Uplift Legal Funding.
Researchers compared state-level fatal occupational injuries for 2023 and 2024 and ranked states by deaths per 100,000 residents. Wyoming recorded 82 fatal workplace injuries, a rate of 14.00 per 100,000 people, far above every other state.
Alaska ranked second with 53 deaths and a rate of 7.21. North Dakota placed third at 6.83, with 54 fatalities. Montana and Mississippi rounded out the top five at 6.08 and 5.63.
Arkansas, West Virginia, Iowa, South Dakota and Idaho completed the top 10. Several of those states reported more total deaths than Wyoming, but larger populations produced lower per-capita rates. Texas recorded 1,121 fatalities, the highest raw total, yet ranked 21st at 3.61 per 100,000 residents.
Rhode Island had the lowest rate, 1.09 per 100,000, with 12 fatal injuries. New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut also finished near the bottom of the danger ranking.
Jared Stern, founder of Uplift Legal Funding, said: “Every workplace carries some level of risk, but these figures highlight how much that risk can vary depending on where people live and the industries that dominate each state.
“The gap between Wyoming and every other state is striking, and it reflects the outsized role that high-risk industries like mining and agriculture play in smaller state economies.
“Many of the states ranking highest have economies built around sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction and transportation, where workers are more likely to face hazardous conditions on a daily basis. While workplace safety has improved significantly over time, these findings show there’s still an important need for continued investment in training, safety standards and protective measures to help prevent avoidable tragedies.”
