According to findings from our Q1 2026 Insurance Labor Market Study — now in its 17th year and conducted in partnership with Aon’s Strategy and Technology Group — the industry remains stable, though competition for the right talent continues.
Half of insurance companies plan to grow their teams this year, while 43% intend to hold headcount steady — a 15-year high, up 10 points from just six months ago. Of the companies planning to expand, primary drivers include anticipated increases in business volume and market expansion. Just 7% of companies expect to reduce staff, down 7 points from July 2025, with automation, reorganization and overstaffing in specific areas cited as the main reasons.
Technology roles continue to top the list of talent needs industry-wide, reflecting continued investment in AI and technology adoption across the industry. For smaller carriers, claims and underwriting are the most pressing hiring priorities, with technology close behind. Experienced professionals remain the industry’s greatest need overall, with 73% of insurers saying they’re most likely to hire experienced talent. However, interest in entry-level candidates is continuing to grow. One-quarter of respondents shared they are most likely to hire entry-level employees, up 5 points from July 2025 and 9 points from January 2025, with the strongest demand in operations (46%), claims (33%), and loss control and sales/marketing (which are tied at 29%). Just 2% of insurers are most likely to hire at the executive level; within that segment, technology represents the greatest area of need, with 10% of carriers actively seeking leadership talent in that space.
Recruiting difficulty has eased slightly across every category compared to last January, yet most roles are still at least moderately difficult to fill. Actuarial, executive and analytics positions have held the top three spots for recruiting difficulty for five consecutive studies. Retention remains a clear priority as well, with voluntary turnover declining 0.4 points from January 2025.
Flexibility continues to be the standard across the industry. Just 7% of carriers require the majority of their staff in the office daily. Meanwhile, 71% offer hybrid arrangements and 80% offer flexible work hours. Very few companies are planning significant changes to work arrangements during the next six months.
From a revenue standpoint, 72% of insurers expect to see growth in 2026 and just 2% anticipate a decrease, primarily driven by changes in market share. For many organizations, building entry-level pipelines, investing in technical talent and strengthening retention will remain key to driving future growth. To download the full Q1 2026 results summary and view the results presentation, click here.
The Semi-Annual U.S. Insurance Labor Market Study has collected revenue and hiring projections from carriers across all sectors of the industry since 2009. The next iteration of the survey will take place in July 2026. To be notified when it opens, follow this link.