Below is the full text of the Letter to the Editor that was published on the Baltimore Business Journal’s website on December 11, 2025.
As Baby Boomers and Gen X professionals retire in growing numbers, the insurance industry is facing a talent crisis. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up to 400,000 insurance jobs could be vacated by 2026. That’s not just a workforce issue; it’s a looming loss of institutional knowledge that could impact everything from customer service to innovation.
Yet just as the industry braces for this transition, a new challenge has emerged: Gen Z isn’t interested in taking our place.A recent study by Cake & Arrow found that nearly 80% of Gen Z respondents have never considered a career in insurance. Nearly half said they have no interest in the field, and 14% said nothing could convince them otherwise. Their reasons? Concerns about ethics in claims practices, a perceived lack of creativity and flexibility and a narrow view of what insurance work entails — namely, sales and call centers.
This disconnect is deeply concerning. At a time when the industry is rapidly evolving to embrace data analytics, cybersecurity and digital marketing, Gen Z’s digital fluency and values-driven mindset are exactly what we need. But we can’t expect them to come to us. We have to meet them where they are.
At Maryland Auto Insurance, we’ve taken that challenge to heart. Since spring 2024, we’ve partnered with the Community College of Baltimore County and the University of Baltimore Advisory Committee to host Insurance and Risk Management Career Days each semester. These events bring together professionals from across the industry to speak directly with students about the breadth of opportunities available, from legal and IT to data analytics, marketing, HR and operations.
We’re also engaged with high school students through programs like Harford County Public Schools’ new Academy of Finance. In December, I will join a panel at Fallston High School to discuss career paths in real estate and insurance, emphasizing the range of roles and the stability our industry offers.
These efforts build on work I began as Maryland Insurance Commissioner, where I helped launch the state’s first four-year risk management and insurance degree program at the University of Baltimore. It remains the only such program in Maryland, though I hope to see others, particularly schools within the University System of Maryland, follow suit.
To support students and those seeking career changes alike, Maryland Auto has also developed an Insurance Education Resources page, offering guidance on degree programs, certifications, and entry points into the field.
The bottom line is that Gen Z isn’t rejecting insurance because they’ve explored it and found it lacking. They’re rejecting it because they don’t see themselves in it. It’s our job to change that narrative.
We must show them that insurance is more than policies and premiums. It’s a dynamic, purpose-driven industry that protects people, fuels innovation and offers meaningful, long-term careers. If we want to ensure the future of our industry, we need to start by investing in the next generation today.
Al Redmer Jr.
Al Redmer Jr. is the executive director of Maryland Auto Insurance.
