A survey by Young Risk Professionals and Counterpart has found that while Gen Z values insurance for its stability and career prospects, many believe the sector is stuck in the past.
The research points to a widening disconnect between younger employees eager to embrace new tools and an industry still slow to adapt.
Nearly 70% of Gen Z respondents said artificial intelligence could improve their workflow. Yet only 8.5% reported being strongly encouraged by their employers to use AI. Just over a quarter (27%) currently use AI daily, leaving what the survey describes as “major runway” for adoption. Almost half (45%) cited slow technology uptake as a serious problem for the sector.
The findings come at a time when the industry is facing a demographic crunch. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 400,000 insurance workers will retire by 2026. Employers risk losing younger talent if they do not modernize quickly enough to meet their expectations.
Counterpart CEO Tanner Hackett said the survey underscored a generational demand for access to new technology. He warned that insurers who fail to act risk losing both talent and customers to more innovative competitors.
Insurers are aware of the challenge. According to the World Economic Forum's Future Jobs Report 2025, 91% of insurance and pension fund employers plan to hire people skilled in working with AI, which is well above the global average of 62%. Eighty-five percent (85%) said they would also reskill or upskill existing staff.
For now, insurance continues to appeal to Gen Z for its stability (64%) and advancement opportunities (45%). But Whitney Harris, national chair of Young Risk Professionals, said the survey highlighted that employers will need to invest not just in digital tools but also in career development if they want to retain the next generation of talent.
