Human capital risk and talent management issues in the insurance market: Public policy, industry and collegiate education perspectives *

Abstract

The human capital attraction and retention challenges in the insurance industry intensify due to a combining effect of demographic, social, economic and market-specific factors. In addition, there is human capital obsolescence risk. The study findings indicate that: the financial services occupation group requires high competency in cognitive abilities, social perspectives, management knowledge and communication skills, but not much in technical, physical/sensory or engineering skills; the insurance industry and most insurance companies have not attained a high reputation; and insurance is not a widely recognised profession by the public and many college students. Based on our macro-and micro-spective investigation of the industry and university education, we recommend: more public relations activities, closer work with local universities and their faculties for adoption of the field as a major; better talent recruitment, training and retention programmes; and preparedness for talent morbidity across financial services sectors and countries. © 2014 The International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics.