One of the pressing topics within the actuarial community is how to grow and develop good actuaries into great managers. The actuarial profession is built upon solid technical skills and ongoing development. An analytical mindset and the ability to comprehend complex data sets and numbers create a firm foundation for any young actuary. However, as individuals step into management roles, they must augment this knowledge with leadership skills to be truly successful.

The use of contingent labor continues to increase, especially in today’s complex and continually changing business environment. Staffing Industry Analysts predicts staffing industry growth of 16% in 2021. Additionally, our recent Q3 2021 Insurance Labor Market Study found 96% of insurance carrier respondents plan to maintain or increase their use of interim employees in the next year – marking the study’s all-time high.

In order to remain agile in today’s evolving insurance landscape, many organizations are increasing their use of contingent workers, leveraging interim talent on an as-needed basis. In fact, a recent McKinsey study found 70% of executives plan to employ more onsite contract workers in the next two years. Research from Gartner further supports this growth, sharing that employers plan to increase their use of interim employees following the pandemic, both as a cost-saving measure and to maintain flexibility.

Last spring, insurance leaders quickly pivoted and adjusted their management strategies to accommodate the remote environment. Now, even as some organizations begin to reopen their physical office locations, work-from-home and hybrid arrangements are here to stay. As leaders develop and evolve their virtual management skills, it’s vital to account for individual employee needs, work styles and life stages to build supportive and productive teams.

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.