Key findings
![Figure 1.1: Initial RTW Rate, Within Six Months Post-Injury, Injury Years 2007-2017. About 95 percent of injured employees return to work within three years of their injury.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw202011.jpg)
![Figure 2.1: Sustained RTW Rate, Within Six Months Post-Injury, Injury Years 2007-2016. From injury years 2007 to 2016, the Sustained RTW rate six months post-injury increased from 60% in 2007 to 65% in 2016.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw202021.jpg)
![Figure 3.1: Days Away from Work, Injury Years 2007-2017. The average number of days away from work decreased slightly during 2007 to 2017, from 44 days in 2007 to 43 days in 2017. During that same time, the mean number of days away from work decreased from 27 to 24.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw202031.jpg)
![Table 1.2: Initial RTW Rate, by Employer Size, Within Six Months Post-Injury, Injury Years 2007-2017. Larger employers tend to have higher Initial RTW rates in the first six months after injury. In 2017, employers with 1 to 4 employees had an Initial RTW rate of 80%, while employers with 500 or more employers had an Initial RTW rate of 85%.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw202012.jpg)
![Table 1.3: Initial RTW Rate, By Employer Industry, Within Six Months Post-Injury, Injury Years 2007-2017. In 2017 the RTW rate for Agriculture was 80%, Arts/Accommodation 81%, Education/Health 85%, Manufacturing 83%, Mining/Utilities/Construction 79%, Other Services 84%, Professional Group 80%, Public Administration 88%, Wholesale/Retail/Transportation 84%.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw202013.jpg)
This analysis focuses on the RTW outcomes of injured employees who received temporary income benefits (TIBs) for their lost time. RTW rates are calculated using quarterly employee wage information from the Texas Workforce Commission.
It is important to note that several factors outside of the Texas workers’ compensation system affect RTW rates for injured employees, including the state’s economy, unemployment rates, industry changes, and changing employee demographics, among others. However, RTW rates are an important barometer of the overall effectiveness of a state’s workers’ compensation system.
![83% back at work within six months of their injury. 95% back at work within 3 months of their injury. Median days away from work in 2017: 24. Lowest RTW Rates at 6 months: Mining/Utilities/Construction and Agriculture - 75%. Highest RTW Rates at 6 months: public administration - 87%.](../../artwork/dwc/rtw2020sb.png)