Workers’ comp rates will fall by average of five percent in January

The price of workers’ compensation insurance in Washington will take the largest drop in more than 10 years on January 1, as the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) finalized its proposed five-percent decrease in the average amount employers pay for the coverage. For construction risk classes, the new rates range from a two percent increase to a 17-percent decrease. See all the new rates here.

“We’re seeing fewer injuries on the job and we’ve made improvements in helping injured workers heal and return to work. That’s good news for workers and employers, and it’s helping us significantly lower workers’ compensation costs,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks.

AGC of Washington welcomes the proposed decreases and will continue to work to make the state’s workers’-comp system more cost-effective by advocating for no age limit for settlements, accurate time-loss benefit calculations and better definition and processing for occupational diseases.

The lower rate means that employers will pay an average of about $58 less a year per employee for workers'-compensation coverage. Employees would pay about $6 less a year for their share of the cost. The decrease means that Washington workers and employers, as a group, pay $136 million less in premiums.