This piece is co-written by Tony Cañas, Client Advisor, and Sandy Zupancic, Vice President.

Insurers are facing a challenging recruiting climate, driven by mass Baby Boomer retirements, a low unemployment rate and continued job growth. There are currently about 250,000 open roles in finance and insurance alone, and not enough qualified individuals to fill them. Insurers that have been operating with lean workforces or tackling unforeseen workloads will likely feel the impact of this candidate-driven market at some point: overworked employees, lack of time for long-term projects and inadequate resources to modernize antiquated systems, to name a few.

The insurance talent landscape is shifting. Many senior-level employees are nearing retirement, Millennials and GenXers are moving into leadership positions, and members of Generation Z are securing their first jobs. Along with these demographic shifts, technology is redefining roles, making today’s desired leadership skills much different than those of even 10 years ago.

It’s no secret we’re currently experiencing a candidate-driven market. Overall U.S. unemployment is at a near-50-year low and within the insurance industry, there are more job openings than qualified individuals to fill them. As the war for talent continues and Baby Boomers retire, many insurers are challenged with recruiting new leaders in an increasingly competitive market.

Odds are you have probably heard my colleagues or me talk in length about the insurance talent crisis. You have likely also heard us discuss the importance of upgrading salaries, culture and more in order to recruit and retain top talent. Were you listening? And more importantly, have you pivoted your strategies as a result?

Follow along as I debunk eight popular insurance talent myths. Then take action to gain an upper hand in securing the best talent.

The insurance industry stands amid a rapidly evolving talent market. Insurers are now face-to-face with the rise of innovation, emphasis on corporate culture, push for inclusivity and growing temporary workforce. Is your organization prepared?