Baby boomers are once again booming in the U.S. workforce. As many as 32 percent of those 65 to 69 and 19 percent of those 70 to 74 years old are currently employed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2024, 36 percent will still be on the job, up from just 22 percent in 1994.   

Instead of heading south for the winter, advances in medical care have given baby boomers a new lease on life. They're staying on the job longer because they have to (living longer costs more), they enjoy job satisfaction or want to stay active longer. 

This ushers in a new challenge for employers – potentially higher workers' compensation claim costs. While the frequency of occupational injuries declines as workers age because they do their job with greater skill, the injuries they do sustain are more severe, and therefore, require a longer recovery.