US Report Finds Data Gaps in Over Half of Child Labor Deaths

A US government report has found that critical information is missing for more than half of workplace deaths involving people under the age of 18, highlighting significant gaps in how child labor fatalities are tracked and recorded.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, released Tuesday, examined 260 child fatality cases occurring between 2013 and 2023 and found that over half lacked detailed data on either the cause of death or the industry in which the child was working at the time.

According to the report, an average of 24 children under 18 died each year in the US due to work-related incidents during the period studied. The absence of consistent, detailed data makes it more difficult for regulators, researchers and policymakers to identify patterns and target interventions to the industries or types of work posing the greatest risk to young workers.

Child labor and workplace safety advocates have periodically raised concerns about gaps in enforcement and reporting related to minors in the workforce, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, food processing and retail, where younger workers are more commonly employed under varying state and federal regulations.

The GAO report is expected to inform further discussion among lawmakers and regulatory agencies about how to improve data collection standards for workplace fatalities involving minors, though the report itself does not specify a timeline for any recommended reforms.