Recruitment company Hays has noted “an uplift” in activity for temporary claims assessors within home and contents insurance, with six-month contracts remaining the preferred option.

“The general insurance market is seeing activity in recoveries and settlements,” it says in its quarterly report on skills in demand across a range of industries.

Hotspots in the insurance sector also include motor assessors.

“This is a challenging role and again there is a shortage of good candidates who have a Certificate IV in loss assessing,” Hays says.

Commercial property claims is another area of opportunity, while casualty and financial lines underwriters are in demand.

Hays Australia and New Zealand MD Nick Deligiannis says candidates who offer “additional value” stand out to employers.

“That could be through previous experience in a related discipline, prior process improvements or efficiency gains, additional tickets or qualifications, or advanced digital or system skills, all of which allow a candidate to perform supplementary duties,” he said.

In life insurance, Hays says many teams are being restructured to decrease portfolio sizes for claims staff, creating new vacancies amid a shortage of candidates.

“Employers in particular want to hire candidates with an allied health background,” the report says.

“They will also recruit allied health professionals with no claims experience for claims assessor roles.”

Hiring managers are open to internal transfers of life underwriters from overseas, and the skills shortage has led to rising salaries at the senior to principal level in underwriting.