The actuarial profession continues to face a period of drastic changes. From market evolutions— including the introduction of more stringent regulations—to talent transformations, including the increased popularity of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees, these shifts are having a drastic impact on the supply and demand of actuarial professionals.

The search is on for qualified underwriting talent. Amid a growing number of positive labor trends—including low unemployment rates and positive staffing increases—a number of key insurance functions are feeling the pinch. Underwriting positions, in particular, are becoming more and more difficult to fill. As a result, the war for insurance underwriting talent is heating up.

The post-recession recovery has seen monumental growth within the insurance industry. In fact, according to a recent PropertyCasualty 360 article, the industry has added more than 100,000 new jobs in roughly five years. The industry’s historical vitality is helping to make an insurance career more appealing to job seekers looking for stability in the wake of the recent downturn.

Following the financial crisis and economic recession of recent years, the life insurance industry is taking a hard look at their current vulnerabilities and risks. The resulting regulations will have a significant impact across all functions of the life insurance industry—and this trend of industry regulation is only anticipated to increase.

Today’s labor force is experiencing a break-neck evolution. Much as the nation of today looks radically different from that of 1980, so too will the United States of 2050 look very different from that of today. Already, demographic predictions paint a picture of a very different workplace in the near future, as employees “gray,” female professionals outnumber their male counterparts and we transition into a “minority majority” nation. Today’s organizations are now coming face-to-face with an increasingly diverse workforce. This unprecedented and ground-breaking phenomenon has permanently changed the reality of the business world. Further fueling these rapid demographic shifts is increased globalization and connectivity. Together, these trends are the driving force behind the growing diversity and inclusion (D&I) movement. As organizations continue to expand beyond their borders, we can no longer ignore the business case for D&I.