It is a good time to be an experienced insurance professional, with the latest quarterly report from recruiter Hays finding such staff are highly sought after by the industry.

Demand is particularly strong for senior-level staff in personal and commercial motor claims and workers’ compensation, while there is a general shortage of quality candidates across the market, the report says.

“Underwriters in niche areas are in high demand, with accident and health, liability and professional indemnity classes of underwriting very short-staffed,” Hays Insurance’s Regional Director Jane McNeill said. “Candidates with 10 or more years’ experience are in most demand.”

The industry is starting to take a long-term view, with some employers taking on new graduates and less experienced workers and training them to perform in senior roles, to ensure skills shortages become less frequent.

“It’s something we’re seeing more frequently as companies look to retain staff,” Ms McNeill told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“For the more specialised positions, we see organisations offer to put staff through [external] training courses, while offering in-house training for more junior staff.”

Experienced workers understand the value of their skills in the current market and are becoming more selective about the companies and roles they will consider, Ms McNeill says.

“They are taking longer to think about roles and will wait for the perfect role to become available,” she added.

Employers are offering leading candidates incentives such as working from home, bonuses and free parking, the report says.

“It’s an employee-value proposition that includes flexibility, an attractive working environment, training and incentives,” Ms McNeill said.

Staff shortages are attracting skilled professionals from across the Tasman, with well-qualified New Zealanders taking up insurance roles in Australia.