Job prospects Commercial Underwriter - Insurance in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "commercial underwriter - insurance" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Insurance underwriters (NOC 12202) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

There will likely be high growth due to the number of insurable claims as a result of natural disasters. Extreme weather events are causing rising strain on the insurance market. Climate change is likely to bring more disruption to the industry.

While the number of people employed in this occupation has increased, high stress related to this occupation may result in higher attrition.

An ageing workforce means that there is a skills gap emerging in the industry in underwriting, actuarial functions, claims adjusting, and other key areas.

Here are some key facts about Insurance underwriters in British Columbia:

• Approximately 1,750 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Insurance underwriters mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Insurance Carriers and related activities (NAICS 524, 526): more than 95%
• 87% of insurance underwriters work all year, while 13% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of insurance underwriters are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 28% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 72% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 23% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 28% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 34% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology