Insurance
Home›Insurance›Industry & Deals›Insurers project hiring growth despite weaker past hea…
Insurers project hiring growth despite weaker past headcount gains
A new study found total industry headcount rose just 0.21% from July 2025 to July 2026, far below the 1.03% companies had expected.
Insurers expect modest workforce expansion even as recent hiring has lagged projections, according to The Jacobson Group and Aon’s Strategy and Technology Group benchmarking division, as summarized by Risk & Insurance.
The Q3 2026 Insurance Labor Market Study found 49% of insurance companies plan to add staff over the next 12 months, led by Life and Health firms at 53%. At the same time, 11% of companies overall plan to reduce headcount, down from 14% in the July 2025 study.
Looking back, total industry headcount grew just 0.21% between July 2025 and July 2026, compared with a 1.03% growth rate companies anticipated a year earlier. Risk & Insurance also reported that expectations for revenue growth over the next 12 months were widespread, with 78% of companies forecasting increases.
The study attributed staffing increases mainly to expected business volume growth, cited by 36% of companies, and expansion into new business or markets, cited by 34%. It also said most planned headcount cuts are tied to automation improvements and other organizational factors, while technology, underwriting, and claims roles are expected to see the greatest growth.