As hiring managers evolve their recruiting processes to accommodate today’s primarily virtual work environment, they must also account for employees’ changing needs. Ninety-six percent of HR leaders say creating a great employee experience is becoming increasingly important, impacting not only retention, but the organization’s bottom line. However, exactly what individuals desire from a company is shifting, especially in light of COVID-19.

The insurance carriers and related activities sector remained strong in the first quarter of 2021. Initially, the BLS reported a loss of 9,300 insurance jobs for January 2021, marking the first decline since recovery from COVID-19’s impact began in May 2020. However, the BLS revised this number to reflect an increase of 2,300 jobs in January and a loss of just 4,900 roles in February. Accounting for BLS adjustments and a reported increase of 11,200 roles in March 2021, the insurance carriers and related activities sector continues to grow, employing 31,800 more individuals than it did in March 2020.

Our professional recruiting team speaks with clients and candidates every day, uncovering insights and themes around hiring trends, recruiting challenges and best practices. In this new quarterly blog series, Recruiter Report, we aim to provide a pulse on the issues and questions hiring managers are exploring and share our perspective and insight.

With catastrophe season looming, it’s time to start strategizing your talent plan for both the expected and unexpected events this year will bring. Last year saw record-setting tropical storms and wildfires. While tornado activity was below average in 2020, 2021 is predicted to have above average activity, due to La Niña. No matter what this year’s CAT season has in store, having a strategic talent plan in place is undoubtedly key to ensuring your policyholders are best taken care of in their times of need.

As we hit the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely your employees are accustomed to working remotely. While video calls and group chats have become the norm for communication, the remote environment can present challenges for effective onboarding. As new employees join your team, it’s important to make them feel welcome from day one, while providing the tools and resources to do their jobs well.