MALVERN, PA — The Institutes Knowledge Group reported that risk management and insurance professionals are increasingly pairing technical expertise with leadership and communication skills, a shift that could reshape hiring, training, and succession planning across the industry as a new generation enters the workforce.
The findings come from the organization’s 2026 Skills Report, released this month and based on learning activity from professionals who completed more than 170,000 courses and earned over 10,000 professional designations during 2025.
According to the report, demand for foundational education in insurance, claims, and risk management remains strong as newer professionals enter the field. The report suggests that as those workers gain experience, attention is expected to move toward specialized expertise and leadership development.
The Institutes Knowledge Group said employers are placing greater emphasis on transferable skills such as strategic thinking, communication, and decision-making as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into insurance operations.
The report argues that organizations can strengthen leadership pipelines by combining technical training with broader professional development programs. Such an approach, it found, can help employers prepare employees for future management and executive roles while addressing long-term workforce needs.
“The findings in our Skills Report highlight that building a strong workforce isn’t just about what people learn, but also how they learn it,” Adam Carmichael, president of The Institutes Knowledge Group, said in discussing the report’s conclusions.
Carmichael pointed to simulation-based and experiential learning as areas receiving increased attention, arguing that realistic training environments can improve knowledge retention and workplace application of skills.
The report arrives as insurers and risk management organizations continue adapting to workforce turnover, evolving technology, and growing demand for employees capable of navigating both technical and operational challenges.
The Institutes Knowledge Group, part of the Malvern-based not-for-profit organization founded in 1909, said the report is intended to help employers evaluate training priorities and build professional development programs aligned with changing industry demands.
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