![[Claimant Wages
Heading]](./claimhea.gif)
The average weekly wage for Oregon workers injured on the job
during fiscal year (FY) 1994 was $394.45. The average weekly
wage for all workers (excluding federal) was $464.25, a
difference of $69.80. For more information on the decline in the
wages of injured workers relative to those of all Oregon workers
(see Table 1), the publication Differences in Average Weekly
Wages is available upon request.
Injured workers who are "disabled" for more than three calendar
days receive time loss benefits equal to two-thirds of their
weekly wage at time of injury, up to the maximum benefit
limitation. For injuries occurring in FY 1994, the benefit
limitation was $478.95. The maximum benefit changes each July 1,
with the time loss maximum set to the average weekly wage of
all Oregon employees during the fourth quarter of the preceding
calendar year.
During FY 1994, 2,232 workers (7.9 percent of claimants) had
weekly wages above $718.42, which is the wage at which claimants
received the maximum benefit. Were there no benefit limitation,
these higher-wage workers would have received time loss in
excess of $478.95. However, any adverse effects of the benefit
structure depend upon the extent to which tax-free workers'
compensation benefits replace after-tax earnings or purchasing
power.
![[Table 1]](./claimf1.gif)
Of the 28,079 claimants with wages reported, 70.4 percent
received wages which fell at or below the maximum benefit amount
of $478.95 for those claims. Figure 1 shows the distribution
of both wages and claims at $50 intervals for FY 1994.
![[Figure 1]](./claimf2.gif)
The distribution of cases by age is shown in Table 2. Of the FY
1994 claims, 47.2 percent were for workers aged 34 and younger,
with the greatest number in the 30-34 age group. The number of
claims per age group steadily declines thereafter, while the
average wage shows an increase until peaking at $471.59 per
week in the 50-54 age group.
![[Table 2]](./claimf3.gif)
Table 3 presents wage data by the sex of the claimants and the
industry division as determined by the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) of the employer at injury. In FY 1994,
women accounted for 31.7 percent of the claims. The average wage
for female workers was $311.05, while male workers averaged
$433.11 per week. Manufacturing had the greatest number of
claims, with 22.1 percent of the total. Mining had the highest
average wage, $528.26. Retail trade had the lowest average
wage, $287.75. The highest wages reported by major industry
group (10 or more claims) were in heavy construction (SIC 16,
$643.59) and state government - justice, public order and
safety (SIC 92, $625.13). The lowest wages were in eating and
drinking places (SIC 58, $203.21) and hotels and other lodging
places (SIC 70, $206.24).
![[Table 3]](./claimf4.gif)
Table 4 shows the occupations (10 or more claims) with the
highest and lowest average weekly wages.
![[Table 4]](./claimf5.gif)
Table 5 displays the percentage of claims and the average weekly
wage by the top level of formal education completed at the time
of injury.
![[Table 5]](./claimf6.gif)
If you have questions about the information contained
in this document please contact by e-mail or phone:
Mike Maier,
Research Analyst, Research & Analysis Section, Information
Management Division (503) 947-7352
This document was originally published in March
1995.
Document URL:
http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/imd/rasums/claim94.h
tm
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