Are insurance companies short staffed?
Altogether, it seems likely that today's insurance talent shortage isn't going away any time soon. If anything, carriers may be feeling increased pressure from reduced staffing in the coming years, in a few critical ways.
The insurance industry in the United States is facing a significant challenge due to a shortage of skilled workers, with projections by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics suggesting that the industry could lose around 400,000 workers through attrition by 2026.
The hiring pool is limited for entry-level and experienced talent, with 65% of people leaving an insurance job also exiting the industry. The leading reason why employees quit is a need for more career development and advancement.
About 20 different companies reduced staff throughout the year as insurers looked to refocus their businesses or decelerate cash burn. Companies cited a variety of reasons for laying off staff, including restructuring in the case of some of the larger reductions initiated by more established insurers.
The property insurance sector is under heavy pressure from poor financial performance due to unexpectedly high inflation, a shift of exposures to higher-risk areas, and rising reinsurance costs.
Compensation, work-life balance and benefits are the most frequently cited reasons for leaving the insurance industry, according to a study by Vertafore.
Insurance is widely considered an “evergreen career,” one which typically offers excellent job security. Bureau of Labor Statistics research predicts that positions for insurance professionals will likely grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031, with approximately 32,900 new jobs per year.
- Cyber Attack or Data Breach.
- Failure to Attract or Retain Top Talent.
- Weather and Natural Disasters.
- Regulatory or Legislative Changes.
- Economic Slowdown or Slow Recovery.
- Damage to Brand or Reputation.
- Tech or System Failure.
- Increasing Competition.
In the past 10 years, most insurance companies operated with roughly an 8-9% staff turnover rate, whereas now, it's more typical for companies to operate in the 12-15% range, with voluntary turnover spiking at more significant levels.
The future of work: Opportunities
Data-driven decision-making is becoming central to insurance operations. That trend is driving an increasing demand for actuaries and data analysts in insurance, who use digital tools to analyze large datasets, build predictive models, and inform pricing and risk strategies.
Which insurance companies are laying off employees 2023?
Liberty Mutual announced some job cuts due to organizational changes. Insurtechs were not immune: Hippo laid off 20%, and Branch Insurance, Corvus Insurance and Pie Insurance also announced layoffs in 2023. In the meantime, more employees were told to come to work more often.
Google, Amazon and UPS are among those slashing staff, though cuts are expected to be smaller than those last year. This article is in your queue. Companies are cutting staff and focusing on efficiency amid a commitment to do more with less following a year of widespread layoffs.
Prudential Financial, which let go of 243 senior positions last November, intends to lay off 145 more this year, according to a WARN notice the company recently posted. It is unclear how many of the positions are based in New Jersey — or what level the employees being released are at in the company.
Insurance is the reason something bad happening to you, like losing your home in a wildfire, doesn't guarantee a slide into poverty. But the industry is in serious trouble. Climate disasters around the state, especially worsening wildfires, threaten the current business model and millions of middle-class Californians.
- The Rising Cost of Healthcare. ...
- Regulatory Uncertainty. ...
- Changing Consumer Needs. ...
- Technology Disruption. ...
- Increased Competition. ...
- Changing Demographics. ...
- Financial Wellness Programs Can Help.
Why Insurance Companies Go Out of Business. Although the insurance industry is highly regulated, insurance companies do fail for a variety of reasons. For example, they might underprice their products and have higher-than-expected insurance claims, as long-term care insurer Penn Treaty did.
Insurance companies have pointed to three main reasons that doing business in California is increasingly a losing proposition: Escalating wildfire risk, ever-rising construction costs and the global price of reinsurance — insurance policies that insurance companies, themselves, take out.
The median tenure in the insurance sector was 5.5 years, researchers found. While the industry's average tenure is among the highest in both private and public sector occupations, CapRelo found the average did decline in the last decade by 0.5 years.
Retiring Insurance Workforce and the Young Professionals
The average age of an agent or a broker, according to industry statistics, is pushing 60, and a white paper published by McKinsey puts the median age of insurance agents at 59 years old.
While there are many kinds of insurance (ranging from auto insurance to health insurance), the most lucrative career in the insurance field is for those selling life insurance.
Is insurance a good career for introverts?
As an insurance agent, you may think that being an introvert is a disadvantage when it comes to selling insurance. However, being introverted can be an advantage in this industry, as introverts often excel at building deep relationships and listening to the needs of clients.
Clearly, the world couldn't continue to function in a normal way without insurance protecting individuals and businesses from risk and financial loss. So, in this way, insurance can be considered a “recession-proof” industry.
- Galvanized and lead pipes. Homes built or renovated before 1980 often contain lead or galvanized steel water pipes that can rust over time. ...
- Oil heating systems. ...
- Wood roofs. ...
- Pools and hot tubs. ...
- Basem*nts. ...
- Fireplaces and wood stoves. ...
- Home business. ...
- Lowering your insurance premiums.
Executive Life Insurance Company (1991) - One of the largest life insurance companies in the US, it went bankrupt due to investment losses in junk bonds.
Inoperable systems. One of the biggest challenges insurers face is the struggle to innovate to the latest technology, most often because of inoperable legacy systems. 68 percent of insurance companies see legacy systems as the biggest obstacle to digital transformation.
References
- https://www.kqed.org/science/1985175/insurance-in-california-is-changing-heres-how-it-may-affect-you
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/how-do-insurance-agents-make-money-452548.aspx
- https://wtop.com/news/2014/04/the-most-least-common-jobs-in-the-us/
- https://www.clements.com/careers/why-insurance-career-reasons-benefits/
- https://www.insureon.com/blog/why-choose-an-insurance-career
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/09/tech-experts-say-ai-wont-replace-humans-any-time-soon.html
- https://www.liferay.com/blog/customer-experience/4-challenges-in-moving-to-digital-insurance
- https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/02/22/finance/prudential-financial-to-let-go-of-145-employees/
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1875-stressful-careers.html
- https://www.insurgrid.com/blog/how-selling-insurance-can-make-you-a-millionaire
- https://www.bcs-eo.com/article/managing-stress-as-an-insurance-agent
- https://www.joinassembly.com/blog/comparing-employee-turnover-rates-high-vs-low
- https://www.iaisweb.org/2023/12/iais-global-insurance-market-report-2023-highlights-key-risks-and-trends-facing-the-global-insurance-sector/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stress-awareness-insurance-industry-avyst
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040515/industries-will-never-go-away.asp
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/22/amazon-workers-shortage-leaked-memo-warehouse
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/life-insurance-statistics/
- https://www.pacificcrestservices.com/post/5-reasons-why-independent-insurance-agents-are-the-future-of-the-industry
- https://www.applauz.me/resources/how-to-calculate-employee-turnover
- https://www.staffboom.com/blog/bridging-the-insurance-talent-gap-with-outsourcing/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-3-biggest-challenges-insurance-industries-2023-insboss-usa-inc
- https://www.reckon.news/news/2023/03/insurance-companies-are-fleeing-climate-vulnerable-states-leaving-thousands-without-disaster-coverage.html
- https://insuranceproshop.com/2022/07/18/why-do-90-of-new-insurance-agents-quit-the-keys-to-new-agent-sales-success/
- https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/cuts-at-property-and-casualty-carriers-drive-2023-us-insurance-layoffs-79807682
- https://www.hiration.com/interview-prep/insurance-agent-interview-questions/
- https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/resources/career-advancement/15-reasons-insurance-agents-fail
- https://www.staffboom.com/blog/insurance-workforce-turnover/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/is-life-insurance-worth-it/
- https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/climate-in-crisis/insurance-companines-unites-states-storms-fires/3324987/
- https://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/companies/2024/02/01/company-layoffs-in-2024/72410804007/
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/g/Highest-Paying-Insurance-Jobs
- https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/healthcares-10-most-stressful-jobs.html
- https://www.hippo.com/blog/home-features-insurance-companies-fear
- https://learnandserve.org/why-being-an-insurance-agent-is-a-great-career-choice/
- https://global.hitachi-solutions.com/blog/insurance-digital-transformation/
- https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2023/11/14/2024-insurance-industry-employment-outlook/
- https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/switch-car-insurance-companies
- https://www.financialresearch.gov/the-ofr-blog/2023/12/14/property-insurance-market/
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/insurance-sales-agents.htm
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20-most-notable-insurance-carrier-failures-jeff-affronti
- https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20220110/NEWS06/912347106/Insurance-sector-dodges-Great-Resignation-woes-employee-retention-Capital-Reloca
- https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2023/02/20/708136.htm
- https://www.iamagazine.com/strategies/top-3-reasons-why-people-leave-the-insurance-industry
- https://www.quora.com/Will-AI-lawyers-obsolete-100-of-lawyers-by-2030
- https://nysscpa.org/news/publications/the-trusted-professional/article/big-four-agree-ai-will-not-replace-accountants-080923
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/insurance-agent-salary-everything-you-need-to-know-448450.aspx
- https://www.goodlifeia.com/blog/10-best-states-to-be-an-insurance-agent/
- https://www.aon.com/en/insights/reports/global-risk-management-survey/top-risks-facing-insurance-organizations
- https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/insurance/fuel-future-insurance-technology
- https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantage-disadvantage-insurance-39117.html
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/breaking-news/brokers-struggle-with-soaring-stress-levels--ecclesiastical-463170.aspx
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1112/the-least-stressful-jobs-in-the-u.s..aspx
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-ai-truly-replace-real-estate-agent-abhishek-nair
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/101215/how-hard-career-selling-life-insurance.asp
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/is-insurance-sales-a-good-career
- https://amtrustfinancial.com/resource-center/insurance-career-tips/why-working-in-insurance-is-awesome
- https://medium.com/@jobwanderer/the-9-hardest-most-demanding-difficult-jobs-b8c4be7e0441
- https://www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk/news/article/627/the-top-five-friendliest-industries-for-workers
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1212/8-qualities-that-make-a-good-insurance-agent.aspx
- https://www.easysend.io/blog/digital-transformation-and-the-future-of-work-in-insurance-opportunities-and-challenges
- https://www.theadvisorcoach.com/7-reasons-youll-fail-as-an-insurance-agent.html
- https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/quietly-successful-tips-for-introverted-insurance-agents-to-excel-in-sales
- https://www.jenesissoftware.com/2023/02/insurance-agents-obsolete/
- https://paytm.com/blog/insurance/what-is-insurance-definition-benefits-and-types/
- https://www.dailypay.com/resource-center/blog/employee-retention-rate/
- https://www.avenga.com/magazine/insurance-industry-tech-trends/
- https://www.safe.security/resources/blog/what-is-technology-risk-also-known-as-it-risk/
- https://www.javatpoint.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-insurance
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/insurance.asp
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/insurance-interview-questions
- https://www.docsumo.com/blog/digital-disruption-in-insurance
- https://athensceo.com/news/2023/11/these-are-top-10-most-stressful-industries-america/
- https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2023/03/01/the-most-lucrative-states-to-be-an-insurance-agent/
- https://staterequirement.com/how-to-sell-insurance/how-hard-is-it-to-sell-insurance/
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/is-life-insurance-a-good-career-path-452033.aspx
- https://www.rpc.co.uk/press-and-media/what-6-key-challenges-will-insurers-face-in-2024/
- https://www.munichre.com/en/insights/digitalisation/ai-in-underwriting-will-grow-but-not-displace-human-experience.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/become-insurance-agent.asp
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-career-life-insurance-agent-wendy-zapata
- https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2024/01/03/754107.htm
- https://www.hurtinva.com/news/15-tips-for-making-a-statement-to-your-insurance-company
- https://www.agentforthefuture.com/topics/technology/unlocking-digital/ai-chatbots-for-independent-insurance-agents/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/business-and-marketing/is-property-casualty-insurer-a-good-career-path/
- https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2019/08/23/solving-the-insurance-industrys-turnover-rate/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianteicke/2023/07/24/will-artificial-intelligence-replace-human-insurance-brokers/
- https://www.cfnc.org/news/10-best-careers-for-the-future-highest-paying-in-demand/
- https://www.jenesissoftware.com/2023/01/why-insurance-agents-quit-prevent/
- https://www.agencybloc.com/ams/customer-and-policy-management/insurance-crm/the-1-reason-clients-leave-your-insurance-agency/
- https://ritterim.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-selling-insurance/
- https://www.enrich.org/blog/top-challenges-insurance-companies-are-facing-today-and-how-market-leaders-are-solving-them/
- https://calmatters.org/politics/2023/09/california-insurance-crisis/
- https://www.resourcepro.com/blog/navigating-the-insurance-talent-crisis-for-a-resilient-future/
- https://www.kdci.co/blog/top-5-industries-most-affected-by-recession-in-2023/
- https://agentsync.io/blog/compliance/how-a-slowing-economy-will-impact-insurance-regulations
- https://www.investopedia.com/insurance/becoming-life-insurance-agent/
- https://www.wsj.com/business/layoffs-2024-companies-tracker-list-6acb4e95
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-jobs-in-insurance
- https://whatfix.com/blog/insurance-challenges/
- https://www.nexford.edu/insights/how-will-ai-affect-jobs
- https://www.cbh.com/guide/articles/top-risk-factors-facing-the-insurance-industry-in-2023/
- https://www.sitkins.com/blog/why-people-can-t-stand-insurance-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
- https://www.agentmethods.com/insurance-agent-trends-and-statistics
- https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/looking-for-job-stability/
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/us-insurance-sector-to-lose-around-400000-workers-by-2026-466593.aspx
- https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/advice/career-advice/job-interview-tips/why-do-you-want-this-job-examples
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/company-out-of-business/