Nine in 10 Australian workers push through pain amid cost-of-living pressure

A new national survey released for WorkSpace Week 2026 found 89% of Australian workers with work-related pain kept working over the past year, often because they could not afford time off. The findings point to rising musculoskeletal injury, delayed treatment and growing costs for workers, employers and the health system.

Why it matters: - Work-related pain is no longer a short-term inconvenience for many Australian workers. The survey links it to lost income, delayed treatment, chronic injury and mental health strain. - The findings point to a broader cost for employers and the economy as musculoskeletal disorders drive most serious workers’ compensation claims and billions in health spending.

What happened: - A new independent national survey for WorkSpace Week 2026 found 89% of working Australians experiencing work-related pain kept working over the past year even though they felt they should have rested or taken time off. - The survey covered 1,056 Australians and was commissioned by the Australian Chiropractors Association and conducted by Pureprofile. - Among all respondents who have worked at some point in their lives, 76% said they have experienced a work-related musculoskeletal disorder or injury. - Among current workers, that figure rises to 83%. - WorkSpace Week 2026 runs from 19-25 October and is now in its fifth year.

The details: - Nearly half of those who worked through pain, 49%, said they could not afford to lose income. The figure was 54% for women. - Cost-of-living pressure stopped 45% of working pain sufferers from taking time off to recover from an injury. - Another 42% said financial pressure delayed or stopped them from seeking medical treatment. - Job security was a major concern for 43% of people who kept working in pain, rising to 50% among workers aged 18 to 30. - Regional workers were more likely than metro workers to experience work-related pain regularly, 46% versus 36%, and less likely to take time off, 41% versus 54%. - Thirty-one percent of people with work-related pain have never sought a diagnosis or treatment, and 65% have at least one untreated condition. - Among current workers with pain, 43% keep working regularly despite believing they should rest or take time off. That rises to 50% for women and falls to 37% for men. - Forty percent of people with work-related pain never told their employer. - Back pain appears to be turning chronic. Back pain lasted longer than three months for 44% of workers, while only 21% said it had completely resolved. - Desk workers are heavily affected, with 83% reporting work-related pain. - The rate is 88% for workers who lift and 91% for workers who push and pull. - Clinical healthcare workers are hardest hit, with 93% reporting work-related pain. - Fifty-five percent of current workers said they had to take time off work because of work-related musculoskeletal disorders or injuries, affecting them, their families and employers. - Work-related pain also affects mental health and wellbeing for 72% of sufferers, rising to 82% among workers aged 18 to 30. - Fifty-two percent of workers said they are too busy to take movement or stretching breaks. - Only 11% said they are very confident they know how to reduce their risk. - Among workers who were not confident, 92% had experienced work-related pain, compared with 73% of those who were very confident.

Between the lines: - The survey suggests a workplace culture where pain is being normalized because many workers feel they cannot stop, speak up or seek care without financial consequences. - Dr Billy Chow, president of the Australian Chiropractors Association, said work-related pain has become an accepted part of working life and warned that continuing to work with an injury can turn a short-term problem into a chronic condition. - The data also shows a knowledge gap. Workers who lack confidence in preventing injury are much more likely to report pain. - Safe Work Australia says musculoskeletal injuries and diseases account for 53% of serious workers’ compensation claims. - Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics for October 2026 says body stressing is the most common mechanism of injury across every major occupation group, with 51,800 serious claims, or 35.2%. - Falls, slips and trips account for 32,700 serious claims, or 22.2%. - The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says health spending on musculoskeletal disorders reached $17.5 billion in 2024-25, up $1.2 billion in a year. - Deloitte Access Economics estimates the total economic cost of musculoskeletal disorders exceeds $55.1 billion a year. - Dr Chow said serious workers’ compensation claims for traumatic joint, ligament, muscle and tendon injuries, and musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases, have increased by 28.7% over the past eight years.

What's next: - The Australian Chiropractors Association is urging employers and workers to use WorkSpace Week to review workplace safety controls, manage modifiable risks and encourage early diagnosis and treatment. - Free resources, including checklists, exercise posters, factsheets and podcasts, are available at WorkSpace Week resources. - Suggested interventions include better posture, regular exercise, movement breaks, stretching and strengthening, ergonomic workstations, task-specific and equipment changes, manual handling training, and balancing workloads and hours to reduce mental stress. - WorkSpace Week aligns with National Safe Work Month and the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033.

The bottom line: - The message from the survey is blunt: many Australian workers are staying on the job in pain because they cannot afford not to, and that is increasing the risk of chronic injury, poorer mental health and higher system-wide costs.