The release of Insurance Business Australia and New Zealand's Top Insurance Employers 2026 offers more than just a list of great employers—it provides valuable insight into what today's insurance professionals value most and what organisations need to do to attract and retain the industry's best talent.
At Ensure Recruitment, we speak with hundreds of insurance professionals every month across claims, underwriting, broking, actuarial, risk, workers compensation, life insurance and wealth management. While salary remains an important factor, it's no longer the defining one.
The findings from this year's report reinforce what we're hearing every day in the market.
The Insurance Business research found that the best employers consistently excelled in five key areas:
One of the most interesting findings was that fewer than 7% of insurance professionals are actively looking for a new role. At first glance this suggests a stable workforce, but the reality is quite different. Employees aren't staying because they're complacent—they're staying because the right employers have created environments where people feel engaged, supported and see a long-term future.
For employers, the message is clear.
The competition for experienced insurance professionals remains strong, particularly across technical claims, underwriting, actuarial, product, risk and leadership positions. When high performers do enter the market, they're typically considering only a small number of opportunities.
The organisations winning this talent aren't necessarily those offering the highest salaries. They're the ones that can clearly articulate:
At Ensure Recruitment, we've seen a noticeable shift in candidate priorities over the past few years.
Today's insurance professionals ask questions such as:
These conversations are happening before remuneration is even discussed.
Congratulations to all organisations recognised in this year's Top Insurance Employers 2026 report. Building a workplace where people choose to stay requires ongoing investment, strong leadership and a genuine commitment to employee experience.
We're also proud to see Ensure Recruitment's Managing Director, Paul Murphy, contribute his expertise to the report, sharing insights into the evolving expectations of insurance professionals and what employers need to do to remain competitive in today's talent market.
As specialist insurance recruiters, we know that attracting exceptional talent starts long before a role goes to market. Employer brand, candidate experience and organisational culture have become just as important as remuneration.
If you'd like to understand what insurance professionals are looking for in 2026—or how your organisation compares with the broader market—we'd love to have a conversation.
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