I came across a report recently that highlighted the major force affecting our industry today: a growing skills mismatch.

For years, success in insurance depended on human judgment. Underwriters relied on instinct, claims professionals leaned on experience, and producers built strong client relationships. Those skills still matter—but today, they need to be paired with digital fluency, too.

That’s because data, analytics, and AI are now embedded across the business. Up to 80% of insurance companies are currently deploying or testing AI and generative AI in at least one business function. As a result, many roles now require a mix of industry expertise and technical skills, from data interpretation to working alongside automated systems.

The problem? That combination is hard to find. According to industry statistics:

• 76% of insurers say their biggest hiring need is experienced talent
• At the same time, a wave of retirements is shrinking the talent pool
• And fewer entry-level roles means fewer opportunities to train the next generation

Traditional hiring approaches aren’t solving the issue. Candidates often have either deep insurance knowledge or strong technical skills—but rarely both.

That’s where partners like WAHVE come in. WAHVE unlocks experienced talent by pairing insurers with seasoned professionals in flexible or remote roles. This helps companies quickly access critical expertise while adapting to modern workforce models. But just as importantly, these professionals can also act as a bridge—mentoring less-experienced employees, validating AI-driven outputs, and ensuring that new technologies are grounded in real-world insurance knowledge. This is especially critical when you consider that entry-level roles—historically how talent was trained—are shrinking due to automation.

At the end of the day, the challenge isn’t just hiring more people—it’s finding the right mix of skills. Insurers that combine experience, technology, and flexible talent strategies will be best positioned to keep up.