The Travelers 2017 Risk Index is out, and for the fifthyear in a row, fewer American consumers, business owners andexecutives think the world is becoming a riskierplace. 

This year, 52% of consumers say they believe the world isgetting riskier, compared to 56% in 2016 and 63% in 2013 when thestudy was first conducted, as shown in the chart below fromTravelers.

Related: Emerging cyber risks 

Only 37% of business leaders say the business environment is getting riskier,compared to 41% in 2016 and 44% in 2015. Data analysts saybusinesses are more optimistic about the general businessenvironment due to declining concern over economic uncertainty. Thereport notes, however, that midsized and larger businesses are moreoptimistic than small businesses. 

The 2017 Travelers Risk Index was conducted by Hart Research,which issued two national online studies. One surveyed 1,203business decision makers, and the second surveyed 1,016 consumersages 18 to 69 about each group's overall perception of risks andwhat worries them most. The results show steady improvement overthe years since the study was first conducted in 2013, but still,both pools say there is much to be concerned about.

Financial worries were once again among the top concerns of bothgroups, along with cyber threats, transportation and travelsafety — including distracted driving, a changing workforce,emerging technology, weather and personal safety.

Both consumers and business personnel cited major concerns overcyber, computer, technology and data threats. The report alsoexamined how Americans are mitigating these risks.

"Rapid technological changes are affecting risk perceptions,"said Patrick Gee, Senior Vice President of Claims at Travelers."The gig economy, artificial intelligence, and automation areweighing heavily on people's minds. While these factors present newrisks, there are ways to mitigate those risks and protect familiesand businesses."

Here are the top five concerns among business executivesand owners:

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5. Ability to attract and retain talent (51%)

Attracting and retaining talent has ranked among the top fivebusiness concerns every year since this survey was first conducted.Specifically, businesses say they worry about finding qualifiedworkers (47%) and retaining them in a competitive labor market(43%). These concerns worsen among midsized and largercompanies.

Related: A safe workplace: The 'secret weapon' for hiringand keeping employees

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4. Legal liability(51%) 

Businesses concerns over legal liability stems from a range offactors. 42% of respondents say they worry a great deal or someabout understanding and complying with new U.S. laws andregulations and putting their company at risk. Some companiesreported their concern over regulatory changes with the PatientProtection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), in terms of both costs(39%) and their ability to understand and comply with potentialchanges to it (39%). 

Businesses also reported concern over liabilities from employeesdriving their own cars (42%).

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3. Increasing employee benefits costs(55%)

As the third most cited concern, 55% of business owners andexecutives say they worry about employee benefits costsincreasing.

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2. Cyber, computer, technology and data breaches andrisks (56%) 

Cyber risks continue to be among the top concerns forbusinesses, with 56% of respondents citing technology risks andcyber threats as a major concern.  Specific concernsappeared the same as in years past. Security breaches ranked as themost worrisome risk (50%), followed by computers suffering damageor crashing (48%). The third-ranked risk businesses say they worryabout is someone gaining access to the company's banking accountsor financial control system (47%).

Related: Protecting against cyberrisks 

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1. Medical cost inflation (61%)

For the fourth year in a row, medical cost inflation is the mostworrisome risk among businesses at 61%. Aon Hewitt found in their2017 Global Medical Trend Rates report that the average medical trend rate is8.2% in 2017, compared to 8.1% in 2016.

Consumers share some overlapping concerns with businessexecutives about risks. Here are the top five concerns amongconsumers:

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5. Transportation or travel concerns and risks(46%)

This year's Risk Index found that fewer consumers are worriedabout risks relating to their physical safety, as transportationand travel risks declined from 54% in 2016 to 46% in 2017. 

Related: Accidents happen: Here's how technology can helpkeep remote workers safe

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4. Cyber/computer/tech, and data breaches and risk(54%)

In fourth, 54% of consumers expressed concern over cyber,computer, technology and data breaches and risks.

The 2017 Travelers Risk Index found that women are moreconcerned than men about cyber threats, and are more likely to takepreventative actions like choosing stronger passwords or keepingtheir social media posts limited or more private.

Among all consumers, 22% said they have been a victim to somekind of cyber breach.  

Related: Get ready: A cyber attack iscoming 

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3. Personal safety concerns and risk(54%)

The number of customers who say they worry about personal safetyconcerns and risks has declined from 59% in 2016 to 54% in2017.

Of this 54%, 17% say they worry "a great deal" about thisaffecting their family, and 38% say they worry "some" about thisrisk. 

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2. Identity theft/loss of personal privacy(55%)

A majority of consumers (55%) say they worry about theiridentity being stolen or are concerned overother personal privacy risks.

When it comes to cyber, 57% of consumers say they worry aboutonline identity theft, and 56% worry about personal informationbeing stolen in a retailer cyber attack.

Related: Assessing identity theft risks

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1. Financial concerns and risks (64%)

Although declining, financial concerns and risks continue to bethe most worrisome risk among consumers. 64% say this is a concern,compared to 70% in 2016.

Consumers' cited concerns focus on jobs and money: not havingenough money to pay their expenses, to live without debt, to beable to retire, and concern over job stability or job security.