Register data: COVID-19 doubled the cases of occupational diseases and affected especially women and social welfare and healthcare professionals

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release 9 June 2025

The data published in the Finnish Registry of Occupational Diseases (FROD) for 2021 and 2022 provide a more detailed picture of the effects of the COVID-19 years on recognized cases of occupational diseases. A total of 3,479 cases of occupational diseases and suspected cases of occupational diseases were recorded in the register in 2021, of which 2,235 cases were  recognized. The number continued to grow during 2022, with a total of 3,856 cases recorded. Of these, 2,576 were recognized occupational diseases.

Women particularly affected by COVID-19

The increase in cases of occupational diseases and suspected cases of occupational diseases caused by the pandemic was already visible in the register in 2020 when the COVID-19 epidemic was declared a pandemic. According to the recently published register data, the number of cases increased in 2021 and 2022. The number of recognized cases of occupational disease even doubled compared to 2020 figures.

A COVID-19 infection was by far the most common occupational disease among working-age people. 1,087 cases were recognized in 2021, and 1,552 cases were recognized  in 2022.

Even previously, in the first year of the pandemic in 2020, COVID-19 explained the increase in the number of occupational diseases cases. The latest register data shows that COVID-19 infections, particularly among women, turned the gender distribution of all occupational disease cases upside down compared to the past.

 "In 2021–2022, two-thirds of all recognized  occupational diseases among working-age people were diagnosed among women. Four out of five cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in women. The largest number of these were in the social welfare and health care sector," says Chief Physician Kirsi Koskela from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Noteworthy new information is that occupational disease examinations were also actively sought and carried out during the pandemic.

"There have been no indications of significant underdiagnostics caused by the restrictions. On the contrary, COVID-19 cases may have contributed to other infectious diseases being suspected to be occupational disease more often than before," says Koskela.

Cases of cryptosporidiosis and scabies on the rise

In addition to COVID-19 infection, the most common occupational diseases recognized  among working-age people in 2021—2022 were noise-induced hearing loss, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, occupational asthma and occupational rhinitis. The number of cases of all these were approximately at the same level as in previous years. Recognized  cases of occupational diseases among working-age people occurred particularly among agriculture workers, construction workers and metalworkers, when COVID-19 infections are excluded from the review.

Other noteworthy data found in occupational disease statistics include the continued cryptosporidiosis epidemic and the growing number of cases of scabies.

"In recent years, about fifty cases of cryptosporidiosis have been recognized  in working-age people each year. Only a few cases end up being recorded as suspicions of an occupational disease," says Ville Ojanen, Medical Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The number of recognized cases of scabies among working-age people turned to a significant increase in 2022. At the time, 59 cases of scabies were recognized  as occupational diseases.

Exposure to asbestos as cause of death from occupational disease

The number of deaths due to occupational diseases has been available in the register since 2020 and is now reported for the first time. In 2020–2022, based on the year of death, a total of 239 deaths from occupational disease were recognized:

• 2020: 73 cases
• 2021: 77 cases
• 2022: 89 cases

The most common causes of occupational disease deaths were mesothelioma, a malignant tumour of the lung or abdominal cavity, and lung cancer. Almost all occupational disease deaths were caused by exposure to asbestos. Three occupational disease deaths related to COVID-19 infection were recorded.

What is the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases?

• The Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD) was established in 1964 by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and records information on recognized and suspected occupational diseases.
• Accident insurance institutions send the occupational disease data to the Finnish Workers' Compensation Centre (TVK), which delivers the data to the register. The Farmers' Social Insurance Institution (MELA) submits its own occupational disease data directly to the register. Insurance companies’ occupational disease data arrives in the register with a delay. The insurance company data is supplemented with occupational disease notifications submitted by physicians to the Regional State Administrative Agency.

Explore the data

• Report: Ammattitaudit ja ammattitautiepäilyt 2021–2022 (Julkari.fi, includes an English-language abstract)
• Recognized occupational diseases in the working-age population 2011–2022 materialsand analysis related to data for 2021–2022 in the Work-life Knowledge Service

Further information

• Kirsi Koskela, Chief Physician, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, kirsi.koskela@ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)43 820 0452
• Ville Ojanen, Medical Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, ville.ojanen@ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)50 478 7296