Insurers will find it increasingly difficult to find experienced loss adjusters as the industry makes more use of builders and offshoring, Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters (AICLA) President Michael Collins says.

Mr Collins told insuranceNEWS.com.au loss adjusters are being cut out of the high volume/low value “bread and butter” work like storm damage, water damage and theft – an essential training ground for younger adjusters as they gain experience to work on more complex claims.

He says trainee loss adjusters used to visit three sites a day as part of their training.

“If you take that basic training component of claims away it is very difficult for a newcomer.”

Insurers in southeast Asia are finding it increasingly hard to find experienced loss adjusters – a trend Mr Collins can see happening in Australia also.

UK loss adjusters have also experienced a 30% decline in “business as usual” over the past three years.

“Every aspect of the insurance industry is changing one way or another, and loss adjusters need to accept the changes as best they can and be prepared for them,” Mr Collins said.

AICLA members should keep in touch with their colleagues and be aware of what is going on around them “to minimise surprise or impact”.

To that end Mr Collins encourages members to attend the Australian Claims Convention being held in Sydney in September.