New national research reveals how cost-of-living pressures and job security concerns are influencing Australians' decisions to work through pain rather than rest, recover or seek treatment.
In launching WorkSpace Week 2026 (19-25 October), a new independent national survey has revealed that nine-in-ten (89%) working Australians experiencing work-related pain continued working over the past year despite feeling they should have rested or taken time off.
Almost half (49%) of those who worked through pain saying they couldn't afford to lose income, rising to 54% of women. The cost of living has also prevented 45% of working pain sufferers from taking time off to recover from an injury, while 42% reported delaying or avoiding medical treatment due to financial pressures.
The 2026 Impact of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders or Injuries on Australian Workers national survey of 1,056 Australians, commissioned by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) and conducted by independent research firm Pureprofile, found that three-in-four Australians (76%) who've worked at some point in their lives (current workers, retirees, unemployed and those on leave), have experienced a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) or injury.
Among respondents currently working, this rises to 83%. Alarmingly, 43% of pain sufferers currently working continue to work regularly with pain despite feeling that they should rest or take time off, rising to 50% of women compared to 37% of men, while many (40%) people with work-related pain never disclosed their pain or injury to their employer.
Job security was high on the list of concerns of those continuing to work despite being in pain (43%) rising to 50% among 18 to 30 year-old workers. Regional respondents were more likely than metro respondents to experience work-related pain regularly (46% vs 36%) and were less likely to take time off (41% vs 54%); while 31% of workers experiencing work-related pain have never sought a diagnosis or treatment and 65% having at least one untreated condition.
The survey identified that work-related back pain is becoming chronic with the back pain experienced by 44% of workers lasting longer than three months compared to just 21% who said their back pain had completely resolved.
ACA President Dr Billy Chow said, "The survey results show work-related pain has become an accepted part of working life for most Australians, with too many continuing to work rather than modify behaviour or seek early diagnosis and effective treatment.
"When people with a work-related injury continue working, a short-term problem can develop into a chronic condition that poses real long-term consequences for workers, their families, employers and the Australian economy," he said.
83% of people surveyed whose job involves computer or desk work have experienced work-related pain, just below those who lift (88%) or push and pull (91%) while clinical healthcare workers are hardest hit with work-related pain at 93%.
The survey also identified the impact WMSDs or injuries have on productivity with 55% of current workers surveyed reporting that they had to take time off work which impacted them, their families and employers.
Safe Work Australia reports (2026) that the majority (53%) of workers' compensation claims for serious injuries are for WMSDs which can develop into a chronic condition posing serious long-term implications for workers, their families, their employers' bottom line and the economy.
"WMSDs can reduce workers' productivity and quality of life while increasing psychological distress, bodily pain and disability, so it's essential for employers to implement preventative measures and interventions. With over 400 serious workers' compensation claims lodged daily, we must prioritise workplace safety controls, regular risk assessments and early intervention to help prevent the long-term impacts on health, wellbeing and productivity," Dr Chow said.
WMSDs are a range of inflammatory and degenerative conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves and supporting blood vessels that can be caused by a single workplace event but commonly result from repeated harmful workspace activities over an extended period.
According to Safe Work Australia's Key Work Health and Safety Statistics (Oct 2026), body stressing continues to be the most common mechanism for injury across every major occupation group causing traumatic ligament and muscle/tendon injury (53,900) and musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases (24,000 - up 6.7% on the previous year). 85% of all serious workers' compensation claims involved body stressing (51,800 or 35.2%), falls, slips and trips (32,700 or 22.2%), being hit by moving objects (23,800 or 16.2%) and mental stress (17,000 or 11.5%).
Aligning with Safe Work Australia's National Safe Work Month and the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033, WorkSpace Week, now in its fifth year, aims to help reduce the occurrence of WMSDs caused by physical and mental stress, repetitive work and poorly set up non-ergonomic workspaces.
WMSD risks include poorly executed lifting, pushing, pulling and bending; repetitive movements; poor posture; prolonged driving; and computer use in non-ergonomic workspaces. These can contribute to chronic neck and back pain, shoulder stiffness, headaches and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Mental stress can also impact workers physically, and can trigger neuro-musculoskeletal disorders, including tension and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches that affect workers' concentration, productivity, social engagement and their overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Australians most at risk of WMSDs include community and personal service workers such as healthcare, aged care, childcare, NDIS and disability service workers. Construction, manufacturing, tradies, labourers, technicians, drivers, and machinery operators are also among those at high risk of work-related injuries.
"Without early intervention, the relationship between pain and mental health can become a vicious cycle, worsening both conditions and affecting workers, their families and employers," Dr Chow said.
"Incorrect and non-ergonomic use of technology in the workplace or when working remotely can also lead to WMSDs including Tension Neck Syndrome or 'tech neck' that's a debilitating condition common among office workers.
"Of concern is that 52% of workers surveyed said they're too busy to move or take movement or stretching breaks, 42% said they forget, and only 33% of those who work at a workplace take breaks often or every hour. Only 11% said they're very confident in how to reduce work-related injury risks while of those who were not confident, 92% have experienced work-related pain compared to 73% of workers who are very confident of modifiable risks.
New figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed direct health expenditure on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) reached $17.5 billion in Australia in 2024-25, accounting for approximately 9% of health system spending attributed to disease and injury. MSDs were Australia's third most costly disease group, behind cancer ($21.7B) and cardiovascular diseases ($18.4b). According to Deloitte Access Economics, when combined with lost productivity, absenteeism, and reduced quality of life, the real cost to our economy exceeds $55.1 billion annually.
With prevention and early intervention providing the best protection against WMSDs, we're urging employers and workers to join the WorkSpace Week movement by reviewing workplace safety controls, managing modifiable risks and encouraging early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Taking a proactive approach can help prevent chronic conditions, improve workers' health and wellbeing, and reduce absenteeism and associated costs while supporting workplace productivity," Dr Chow said.
Interventions can include modifying behaviour to improve workers' posture; promoting regular exercise and breaks, stretching and strengthening; establishing ergonomic workstations; implementing task-specific changes and equipment modifications; implementing ongoing education in manual handling/lifting techniques; and organisational change to balance work hours and workloads to improve workplace culture that can minimise mental stress.
"With serious workers' compensation claims for traumatic joint, ligament, muscle and tendon injuries, and musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases increasing by 28.7% over the past eight years, WorkSpace Week highlights the importance of prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence of work-related injuries and their long-term physical, psychological and financial impacts on workers, employers and economy," said Dr Chow.
Employers and workers can
