We’ve all heard the stereotypes about Gen Z employees: Unmotivated. Overly sensitive. No sense of loyalty. But I see something different.
The Gen Z candidates who walk through our doors aren’t lazy. Instead, they’re strongly motivated by a balanced combination of money, purpose, and wellbeing.
Gen Zs aren’t disloyal — they are quick to leave a toxic workplace culture or an unfulfilling role in favor of a business opportunity that is better aligned with their values and goals. Nearly nine in 10 Gen Zs (89%) say that having a sense of purpose at work is key to their job satisfaction.
Gen Z employees are not unable to accept feedback. They do, however, value their mental health, and therefore expect criticism to be constructive and respectful only. A true driving force for more than half of Gen Zs, as many as 61% are open to a job change if that means access to better mental health resources.
To the misunderstood Gen Z workforce: We’ve got a lot in common. The insurance industry is often misunderstood, too.
Most notably, insurance is the safety net that enables our society to move forward intact. The insurance industry pays out hundreds of billions of dollars in claims in the U.S. every year. Those dollars help keep farms afloat during a terrible storm season, rebuild homes after hurricane devastation, cover major medical bills from life-saving surgeries, support partners who have lost spouses, and protect small businesses from otherwise door-closing claims.
If you’ve glossed over insurance in your search for your best professional fit, come take another look. An insurance career enables you to dig deep into business and personal risk. Risk mitigation and risk transfer strategies safeguard people and their property. The relationship between the insured and their broker means most days on the job bring brand new interactions and networking. And you can make a great living while you do it all.
Insurance checks so many boxes for Gen Z. Meaningfully, it is backbone of the economy, protecting many financial choices in our personal and professional lives and it offers anyone facing disaster the opportunity for a second chance. How many industries can say that?
Insurance: The most accessible financial services career
Real estate, banking, law, and insurance are the four cornerstones of our society. But you’ll have to spend three years racking up law school debt to be a lawyer, scrape by while you try to make a name for yourself in real estate or tolerate the long hours and high stress that come with a career in investment banking. If none of that interests you but you still want to leave your mark in financial services, insurance is your best way forward.
A career in insurance has what you’re looking for:
- Career Growth
Two of the top three reasons Gen Z chooses employers are opportunities to progress in their careers and learning and development. The insurance industry has a multitude of niche markets that enable early growth and quick advancement. Specializations within insurance span across markets to everything from cybersecurity to aviation, construction and design, entertainment, agriculture, cannabis and more.
- Social Awareness
Over half (54%) of Gen Z employees cite meaningful work as a very important consideration when evaluating a potential employer, and two-thirds (65%) have serious concerns about the environment. The insurance industry exists to protect communities and reduce the impact of real-world problems like climate change through effective risk mitigation strategies. The insurance industry is at the forefront of sophisticated technologies that improve the early detection and mitigation of catastrophic, severe weather events, for example.
- Financial Stability
Almost half (48%) of Gen Zs don’t feel financially secure, and more than half say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. Both day-to-day finances and long-term financial planning cause stress for 80% of Gen Zs, and about 40% have concerns about being able to retire comfortably in the future. A career in insurance — one of the oldest and most stable industries in the corporate world— offers high earning potential without higher-education debt.
Insurance producers (agents selling insurance), for example, make a commission on each initial sale and then again, every year thereafter, when the client renews their policy. That’s like selling a car that pays you a commission every year the driver keeps driving it. Retaining existing customers while adding new ones enables producers to exponentially grow their book of business year over year.
- Mental Wellness
Over one third (35%) of Gen Z employees indicate that their job is a major source of stress. Paired with the fact that only half (52%) of Gen Zs rate their mental wellbeing as good or very good, mental health is among their greatest concerns. A career in insurance generally provides flexible schedules with remote and hybrid work options. Insurance affords you the opportunity to build a career that provides the work-life balance and support that many desire.
Gen Z: Insurance is the best career you never saw coming
Gen Z doesn’t settle for mediocrity or busy work — you prioritize purpose, growth, stability, balance, and wellness in your career. If you’re looking to make a sizeable impact and a healthy income, insurance could very well be the answer. Success in this industry is driven by trust, problem-solving, and service — and Gen Z is the right cohort for the job.
