Age and Gender

The most recent information from the Labour Force Survey relating to self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders by age and gender relates to 2006/07.

The prevalence rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders was statistically significantly higher for males (2900 per 100 000 males ever worked – 2.9%) compared with females (2400 per 100 000 females) in 2006/07 (see Table MSDAGE1E).

The oldest working age group (55-64 years for males and 55-59 years for females) and males and females aged 45-54 years, along with males aged 65-74 years and females aged 60-74 years carried the highest prevalence rates. All were statistically significantly higher than the corresponding gender-specific rate (see Table MSDAGE1E)

The estimated incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2006/07 was 125 000 for males who have ever been employed and 122 000 for females.

The incidence rates for males and females were of a similar order (not statistically significantly different), at 740 per 100 000 males (0.74%) and 840 per 100 000 females (0.84%) who worked in the last 12 months. For females, the 35-44 year age group carried the highest rate and the 55+ age group the lowest. The lowest rate for males was in the 16-34 year age group.  All these rates were statistically significantly different from the corresponding gender-specific rate (see Table MSDAGE2E and MSDAGE2W12).