Latino Workers Continue to Face Disproportionate Risk in North Carolina Workplace Fatalities

North Carolina, May 11, 2026. According to Enlace Latino NC, new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Latino workers continue to suffer workplace fatalities at disproportionately high rates compared to their share of the state’s population.

According to the agency’s latest report, 196 workers died from job-related incidents across North Carolina in 2024. Of those fatalities, 30 involved Latino workers, representing approximately 15% of all workplace deaths statewide.

The figures highlight a continuing disparity. While Latinos make up slightly more than 10% of North Carolina’s overall population, recent labor statistics from 2022 through 2024 show they accounted for between 15% and 23% of workplace fatalities during that period.

The report also found that total workplace deaths in North Carolina increased by 10.7% from the previous year, rising from 177 fatalities in 2023 to 196 in 2024. The state’s fatal workplace injury rate also increased, reaching 4.1 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, compared to 3.7 the year before.

Nationally, workplace fatalities declined during the same period. Federal data recorded 5,070 work-related deaths across the United States in 2024, down from 5,283 in 2023.

Safety advocates and legal professionals say Latino workers often face overlapping risks tied to both job conditions and broader social concerns. Data from the National Safety Council and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that between 2017 and 2024, 8,881 Latino workers died in work-related incidents nationwide, with annual fatalities increasing from 903 to 1,229 during that span.

Some families hesitate to report serious workplace injuries or deaths because of concerns involving immigration status, financial stability, or retaliation. This creates additional barriers for injured workers and grieving families seeking compensation, accountability, or legal protection after a workplace tragedy.

Transportation-related incidents remained the leading cause of workplace fatalities nationally in 2024, accounting for approximately one-third of all fatal cases. Falls, slips, and trips followed closely behind, along with incidents involving machinery and contact with objects or equipment.

Industries and job categories where Latino workers remain heavily represented in fatality statistics include:

• Construction and roofing.
• Agriculture and landscaping.
• Transportation and delivery work.
• Industrial and manufacturing operations.
• Structural and heavy labor positions.

Advocates continue to call for stronger workplace safety enforcement, improved training, and safer reporting conditions for workers who may fear retaliation or immigration-related consequences after a serious injury or fatal incident.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.