Overview

Comparison of Wage Inflation and L&I Rate Changes Over Time

This chart shows the annual percent change in the statewide average wage and the annual percent change in the average workers' compensation premium rate per hour going back to 2000.

From 2012 to 2021, the annual percent change in the statewide average wage was higher than the change in the average workers compensation premium rate per hour.

Values

Numerical values presented in the image:

Year Wage Inflation Hourly Rate Change
2024 4.9%
2023 4.8%
2022 2.0% 3.1%
2021 7.5% 0.0%
2020 10.1% -0.8%
2019 6.7% -4.9%
2018 5.5% -2.6%
2017 5.0% 0.7%
2016 4.8% 2.0%
2015 2.6% 0.8%
2014 4.2% 2.7%
2013 2.0% 0.0%
2012 3.4% 0.1%
2011 3.6% 12.2%
2010 2.1% 7.7%
2009 1.9% 3.1%
2008 3.4% 3.4%
2007 5.0% -1.9%
2006 5.4% -0.5%
2005 3.5% 3.7%
2004 0.6% 9.8%
2003 2.3% 28.7%
2002 1.9% 1.9%
2001 0.9% -2.0%
2000 3.6% 0.2%
  • The adopted hourly rate change is shown for 2024.
  • Wage inflation percentages are the annual changes in the Statewide Average Annual Wage calculated by the Washington State Employment Security Department.
  • Hourly rate changes are based on a 6/30/23 distribution of hours by risk classification, assume an average experience modification factor of 0.91, and exclude the impact of the 2007 rate holiday.

Presentation

The annual percent changes in the statewide average annual wage and the average hourly premium rates are shown as 2 lines, to compare them over the years 2000 – 2024.