COMP CLAIM RATE DOWN, COST UP:

The number of paid workers’ compensation claims fell 22 percent relative to the number of employees from 2000 to 2003, according to a newly released report from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. However, the cost of the system rose 30 percent relative to payroll during the same three-year period.

The current Workers’ Compensation System Report estimates cost rose to $1.74 per $100 of payroll in 2003, from $1.34 in 2000. Read the complete report online at http://tinyurl.com/729to/.