Job-Related Determinants of Musculoskeletal Disorders Across U.S. Occupations: Moving Beyond the Industry Sector

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), arising from cumulative exposure to occupational tasks like repetitive motions and heavy lifting, constitute a debilitating health crisis and economic burden across the U.S. workforce. This study aimed to identify and analyze the job-related determinants of these MSDs across U.S. occupations to inform targeted prevention strategies. Utilizing 1,016 observations from publicly available secondary data, including the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and the Occupational Information Network, we employed a stepwise regression analysis. The analysis successfully isolated 24 statistically significant MSD predictors, classifying them as either risk amplifiers or mitigators. High-risk sectors, specifically Healthcare Support, Construction and Extraction, Production, and Transportation and Material Moving, accounted for over 86 percent of all MSD cases. Furthermore, approximately 67 percent of these MSD events led to significant work disruptions, including days away from work or job transfers/restrictions, reinforcing the severe operational and economic impact of MSDs. The findings, which move beyond traditional risk factor analysis by integrating detailed occupational profiling data, offer critical insights for informing policy, enhancing the specificity of workplace interventions, and developing more effective, personalized safety protocols.