The Changing Landscape of Lone Workers: Key Statistics and Trends for 2024

The world of work is constantly evolving, and one significant trend in recent years has been the rise of lone workers. These are employees who work alone, without direct supervision, for at least part of their workday.

As this trend continues to grow, it's important to understand the statistics and implications surrounding lone workers.

 

The Rise of Lone Workers

In the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the number of lone workers worldwide. Today, it's estimated that about 20% of all employees work alone for at least part of their day. This shift has significant implications for various industries and raises important questions about worker safety and support.

Industries with the Most Lone Workers:

1. Maintenance Sector

The maintenance sector leads the pack when it comes to lone workers. Over half (54.7%) of the lone workers surveyed work in maintenance. This high percentage makes sense when we consider the current shortage of skilled workers in industrial maintenance, especially in the United States.

2. Transportation

Coming in second place is the transportation sector, with 30.5% of lone workers. While this is a significant number, it's still far behind the maintenance sector.

3. Janitorial Services

Janitorial services account for 9.4% of lone workers. This might be because some janitors also consider themselves part of the maintenance workforce.

4. Other Sectors

Surprisingly, some sectors we might expect to have more lone workers showed lower percentages:

- Warehousing: 2.5%

- Healthcare: 1%

- Security: 0.9%

- Delivery and Construction: 0.3% each

- Agriculture and Utilities: 0.1% each

These lower percentages are unexpected, as many of these jobs often involve working alone without direct supervision.

 

Safety Concerns for Lone Workers

One of the biggest challenges for lone workers is safety. Without immediate support from colleagues, they can face higher risks in their day-to-day work.

Most Common Injuries

The 2024 research by Bodytrak revealed some surprising statistics about injuries among lone workers:

1. Explosions: A whopping 69% of lone workers surveyed reported injuries from explosions. This high number is likely due to the catastrophic nature of such events.

2. Vehicle Accidents: 15% of lone workers reported injuries from vehicle accidents.

3. Assault: 8% of lone workers experienced injuries from assault. This highlights a significant concern about workplace violence, which isn't limited to any single country.

4. Other Injuries: Fire (4.7%), equipment malfunction (1.6%), slips and falls (1.2%), falling objects (0.3%), and electrical shocks (0.3%) were also reported.

The relatively low number of electrical shock injuries (0.3%) is surprising, considering that between 2011 and 2022, there were 1,322 workplace fatalities involving electricity in the US alone.

 

Support Needed by Lone Workers

Lone workers may work independently, but they still need support from their employers. The survey highlighted several areas where workers desire more assistance:

1. Safety Training: 28.7% of surveyed workers said safety training was the most desirable form of employer support.

2. Mental Health Support: 23.6% of workers emphasized the need for mental health support. This aligns with studies showing that lone workers are 2.37 times more likely to rate their mental health as very poor compared to non-lone workers.

3. Personal Protective Equipment: 12.2% of workers wanted better access to protective gear.

4. Check-in Systems and Regular Communication: 7.8% and 7.2% of workers, respectively, highlighted these as important support measures.

5. Risk Assessments: 6.7% of workers cited this as desirable.

6. Buddy System: 6.1% of workers showed interest in a buddy system, which can help combat isolation and improve mental health.

7. Emergency Response Systems: 5.2% of workers wanted better access to these systems.

8. Clear Guidelines and Procedures: Only 2.5% of workers cited this as a priority, possibly because most lone workers already know who to contact in emergencies or are used to working independently.

 

Demographics of Lone Workers

Age Distribution

Interestingly, the survey showed that a large portion of lone workers are older:

- 65 years and older: 29.3%

- 55-64 years old: 27.4%

- 45-54 years old: 16.6%

- 35-44 years old: 10.6%

- Under 25 years old: 10.9%

- 25-34 years old: 5.1%

This data suggests that there's an initial influx of young lone workers, which then decreases before growing again as workers age.

Geographical Distribution

The survey covered lone workers from various countries:

- USA: 63%

- UK: 13.2%

- Australia: 8.9%

- Canada: 8.8%

- France: 2.8%

- Germany: 2.2%

- Italy: 1%

- Mexico: 0.8%

- Spain: 0.2%

- Poland: 0.1%

The high percentage of US-based lone workers aligns with estimates that there are about 53 million lone workers in the US, Canada, and Europe combined.

Gender Distribution

Surprisingly, there's almost no gender gap among lone workers:

- Women: 49.8%

- Men: 50.2%

This small difference is noteworthy, especially considering the risks involved in many lone worker jobs.

 

Income Levels

The survey also provided insights into the income levels of lone workers:

- $200,000 to $500,000: 32.2%

- $120,000 to $200,000: 25.5%

- $80,000 to $120,000: 17.2%

- $40,000 to $80,000: 10.8%

- Below $40,000: 8.4%

- $500,000 to $1,000,000: 5.5%

These figures show that many lone workers earn well above the US federal minimum wage of about $15,000 annually. In fact, a significant portion falls into high-income brackets.

 

Conclusion

The landscape of lone workers is diverse and complex. From maintenance workers to transportation professionals, lone workers span various industries and face unique challenges. Safety remains a top concern, with explosions and vehicle accidents posing significant risks. Employers need to focus on providing adequate safety training, mental health support, and protective equipment to ensure the well-being of their lone workers.

Demographically, lone workers tend to be older, with a fairly even split between men and women. Many earn competitive salaries, reflecting the valuable skills they bring to their roles. As the number of lone workers continues to grow, it's crucial for businesses and policymakers to understand these statistics and trends to create safer, more supportive work environments for this important segment of the workforce.

By recognizing the unique needs and challenges of lone workers, we can work towards creating a more secure and productive work environment for all. As we move forward, continued research and adaptation of policies will be essential to keep pace with the evolving nature of lone work in our global economy.