About 47% of insurance businesses intend to hire more permanent staff over the coming year, recruiter Hays says.

Demand for risk and compliance specialists remain strong as the industry prepares for tougher regulatory oversight following the Hayne royal commission.

“The impact of the royal commission is still being felt across the industry… employers are acting now to bolster their risk and compliance teams,” Hays says.

Insurers are also looking to recruit climate change experts, project managers and business analysts and digital specialists.

“Climate change experts are a growing area of demand. The number of high-risk regions across Australia is increasing and it is possible that some may become ‘uninsurable’ in future,” Hays says. “As a result, candidates who can paint a better picture for boards of what the future of insurance will look like are sought.”