Insurance industry hiring is on the rise, according to this article published on Risk and Insurance Online. The unemployment rate in the insurance industry is nearly four points lower than the economy in general, and the hiring outlook continues to be bright, with more than half of all insurance carriers planning to increase staff in the next 12 months. Greg Jacobson, CEO of The Jacobson Group, said higher volume and better service delivery are two of the reasons insurers are adding staff.

The number of insurance carriers who plan to increase staff is at its highest level since July 2009, but recruiting IT talent appears to remain a challenge. According to a study by The Jacobson Group and Ward Group, more than half of insurers intend to increase headcount in a stabilizing market. Gregory P. Jacobson, CEO of Jacobson, said the difficulty of recruiting IT people has increased by 16 percent. “There has been a consistent increase in the need to hire technology staff,” Jacobson says.

With 63 percent of recruiters checking social media sites to find out more about potential employees, the reality is that social media is having an increasing impact on the way professionals hire, advance and network. If you are not intentionally active in the space, it is time to make the leap.

The Jacobson Group recently introduced a standalone recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) service line for the insurance industry. Here is Staffing Insurance Analysts' interview of Richard Jacobson, co-chief executive officer, and Dave Coons, senior vice president, in which they describe the strength of Jacobson's insurance industry focus and the reasons behind its new RPO service offering.

Although restated reports indicate that economic growth has been sluggish in recent months, the industry outlook for staffing is optimistic. Based on figures from The Jacobson Group and Ward Group 2011 Mid-Year U.S. Insurance Labor Outlook Study, industry employment looks likely to continue growing.

In the last U.S. Labor Market Study conducted in January, only 66 percent of companies surveyed anticipated revenue growth during the 12 months ahead. This year 75 percent of those surveyed expect growth in revenue, 19 percent expect revenue to be flat and six percent anticipate a decline in revenue.

Fierce competition, globalization, new technology tools and political influence: our industry landscape is changing fast. The successful leaders of tomorrow are those that can take a step back from the “old way” and take on the rapidly changing climate through innovation and a new school of thought.

Amidst a recovering economy and a struggling job market, the question is "what will the job landscape be for the insurance industry in 2011?" This podcast assess the possibilities for the new year using the results of a Semi-annual U.S. Insurance Labor Outlook Study.

To assess the state of the employment market for actuaries, The Actuarial Review recently held a roundtable discussion, including Jacobson's managing partner Margaret Resce Milkint.

As Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr continue to grow, one thing is certain - social media is here to stay. It's time to reevaluate your professional 'brand' and take ownership of your online reputation.