Today, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) released the 2023 WCIRB Geo Study, which underscores regional differences in claim characteristics across California. The web-based interactive map allows you to quickly view key measures across regions.

The study, related exhibits and mapping of nine-digit zip codes to the regions referenced in the study are available in the Research section of the WCIRB website and at the following link:

• 2023 WCIRB Geo Study

The study’s key findings include the following:

• Even after controlling for regional differences in wages and industry mix, indemnity claim frequency is significantly higher in the Los Angeles (LA) Basin and significantly lower in the San Francisco Bay Area. 
• The share of larger indemnity claims (those with incurred costs greater than $250,000) at fifth report level tends to be higher in regions that have lower indemnity frequency. Northern California regions, including the Bay Area and Peninsula/Silicon Valley, tend to have higher shares of larger indemnity claims. 
• The share of cumulative trauma (CT) claims as a percent of all claims decreased for almost all regions from policy year 2020 to 2021. The largest decrease was in LA/Long Beach, which has a high overall level of CT claims. The decreases were also relatively high in the San Bernardino/West Riverside, Bay Area and Sonoma/Napa regions, which have lower than average shares of CT claims.

WCIRB Research Forum Webinar
The WCIRB will host a free webinar to discuss the 2023 Geo Study. Click on the registration link below to sign up. Please submit your questions while registering; time permitting, we will answer your questions during the webinar or follow up via email afterward.

2023 WCIRB Geo Study
Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT
WCIRB Presenters: 

• Sean Cooper, FCAS, MAAA, Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary
• Laura Carstensen, FCAS, MAAA, Vice President, Actuarial Research
• Shane Steele, FCAS, Research Actuary

REGISTER NOW

For those unable to attend the live webinar, a recording will be posted in the Research section of the WCIRB website following the event.