These jobs are the most physically intensive on your body

Pain in the workplace: which industries are the worst affected?

No matter your occupation, discomfort or injury from daily work is a near certainty during your career—be it back pain from sitting at a desk or chronic strain from manual labour.

According to the HSE, in 2023/24, 1.7 million UK workers reported suffering from a work-related illness—comparable to recent years but still significantly above pre-pandemic levels. Of these, 543,000 cases (32%) were musculoskeletal disorders, and 776,000 (46%) were stress, depression, or anxiety. Additionally, 604,000 workers sustained non‑fatal injuries, and 138 were killed in workplace accidents. Collectively, these problems caused 33.7 million working days to be lost.

In a poll of 2,000 UK employees:

• 34% report experiencing workplace pain at least once a week

• 54% have taken time off due to work-related injury

Most frequently reported pain areas:

1. Lower back – 44%

2. Neck – 38%

3. Shoulders – 32%

4. Upper back – 19%

5. Hands – 17%

6. Head – 15%

7. Arms – 15%

8. Knees – 13%

9. Feet – 12%

10. Legs – 11%

Industry breakdown

Office Workers

• 47% suffer neck pain; 43% lower back pain.

• 43% experience discomfort weekly; just 24% have never had pain.

• 45% have taken time off; 7% were off for more than a month.

Factory Workers

• 35% report back injuries; 27% shoulder pain.

• 60% endure weekly pain; only 9% report none.

• 57% have taken time off due to work-related pain.

Construction Workers

• 33% neck pain; 26% arm pain.

• 73% suffer weekly pain—the highest across industries.

• Only 6% never experience pain.

• A striking 90% have taken time off; 58% missed over a week.

• In 2023/24, construction recorded the highest number of workplace fatalities at 51.

Labourers

• 37% lower back pain; 29% neck pain.

• 50% experience weekly discomfort; 16% report none.

• 65% have taken time off; 18% off for over a month.

Retail Workers

• 45% suffer lower back pain; 37% neck pain.

• 56% endure weekly pain; 20% never experience pain.

• 52% have never taken time off; 10% were off longer than a month.

Emergency Services

• 62% report lower back pain—highest of all sectors; 44% neck pain.

• 43% experience weekly pain; 27% never feel pain.

• 58% have never taken time off.

Hospitality

• 57% report lower back pain; 25% neck pain.

• 50% suffer weekly; 24% never have pain.

• 51% have never taken sick leave due to work pain.

Teachers

• 52% lower back pain; 34% shoulder pain.

• 36% experience pain weekly; 32% report none.

• 58% have never taken time off; 12% were off for at least a month.

• In 2023/24, education sector saw approximately 543,000 musculoskeletal disorder cases.

Tradespeople

• 61% report lower back injuries; 32% shoulder pain.

• 42% endure weekly pain; 25% report none.

• 52% have never taken time off; only 3% missed longer than a month.

Managing pain

There are effective ways to manage workplace pain:

• Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and heat therapy help improve circulation, support muscles and joints, and offer low-impact resistance.

• Occupational health programs—like those implemented at Centrica—can reduce absenteeism by offering early intervention and lifestyle support.

 Tracey Hudson, Executive Director at HR Dept, emphasizes:

“If you experience pain due to your work, raise the issue… Occupational Health or your GP can suggest changes… could be life-changing.”

How can a Jacuzzi® hot tub help to manage pain

A Jacuzzi® hot tub can help ease pain through a combination of hydrotherapy, heat therapy, IR and red light technology and massage, all of which are well-supported by physiotherapy research.

Ideal for chronic back or neck pain, arthritis and joint stiffness, sports injuries and stress-related tension.

Sources

·         press.hse.gov.uk

·         hse.gov.uk

·         safesmart.co.uk

·         ft.com