The world of work

In addition to the environmental and financial dimensions, sustainability includes social components that are equally important for private insurers. Insurers are tasked with upholding the attractiveness of the industry for employees and helping to shape the working world of tomorrow.

They provide jobs for 49,902 people and train more than 2,000 young people in various occupations every year. The industry association’s annual employment statistics show the composition of the workforce and the changes compared with previous years.

‘Sustainability in the insurance industry also means being responsible for the future of our employees and for preserving jobs in Switzerland.’

Juan Beer, CEO, Zurich Switzerland

Together with other stakeholders, the SIA conducted different projects around the topics of sustainability and the world of work in 2021. These include the ‘Skills of the future’ study for the insurance industry, InsurSkills – an initiative to raise awareness of one’s employability and lifelong learning – and the finalisation of the startsmart.ch platform for young people

The SIA worked with the Institute of Insurance Economics (I.VW) at the University of St Gallen and the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) to produce the ‘Skills of the future’ study in 2021. The study set out to evaluate existing trends and changes in the insurance industry out to 2030 and use these insights to analyse the skills that will be required in the industry in the future.

The study helps insurance companies to establish targeted vocational education and training for their employees. Interviews with various institutions at all levels of the education system showed how the transversal skills identified in the study, which will gain in importance going forward, could be incorporated into training courses and degree programmes.

InsurSkills will give employees in the industry the opportunity to analyse their basic skills in light of trends and what the future world of work will look like.

The SIA is using the study’s results to develop InsurSkills, an online self-assessment tool enabling users to review their own skills. InsurSkills will give employees in the industry the opportunity to analyse their basic skills in light of trends and what the future world of work will look like. This will enable them to start taking steps to maintain and develop their employability under their own steam, encouraging lifelong learning

The Association for Professional Insurance Education (VBV-AFA) has taken on board these findings and is incorporating them into current reform projects such as ‘Kaufleute 2023’ and into the further development of vocational training and the VBV insurance intermediary examination.

As companies that offer training and apprenticeships, insurers are supporting the next generation. They are playing an active role in vocational training and positioning themselves as attractive employers. The insurance industry offers a wide range of options for advanced vocational training which encourage the transfer of knowledge from training to university degrees and strengthen diversity in everyday work. The SIA coordinates closely with the VBV-AFA on this.

As companies that offer training and apprenticeships, insurers are supporting the next generation. They are playing an active role in vocational training and positioning themselves as attractive employers.

The SIA is also undertaking ongoing work to optimise the startsmart.ch platform to help young people start their careers in the insurance industry. The ‘Berufsfinder’ tool and its apprenticeship platform help young people find a suitable apprenticeship in the insurance industry.

The insurance industry is working hard to ensure it attracts enough talent now and in the future. This sector is known for having a high number of skilled jobs, and it needs people trained in specialist areas. The Swiss job market has a skills shortage across the board, so harnessing existing capabilities and tapping extra potential is extremely important for the insurance industry.

The SIA works with the Competence Centre for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of St Gallen (CCDI-HSG) on this and commissions a regular benchmarking report. The association also works with Compasso, a portal for employers that provides information around professional reintegration. It offers guidance and assistance to help companies deal with employees facing debilitating health problems.

Among other things, Compasso shows employers how exits from the primary labour market can be avoided as far as possible. The SIA also supports the focus50plus initiative, a project of the Swiss Employers’ Association. It seeks to support companies in helping their older employees with occupational mobility and in creating a progressive approach to generational management.

The pandemic has shown how quickly and effectively the insurance company has made the move from office working to home or remote working. This change has led many member companies to establish new and innovative ways of working, with hot-desking, flexi office and hybrid working options now commonplace for many SIA members. This is also changing how employees work together and the concept of leadership.

The SIA worked with the Kaufmännischer Verband in 2021 to update and modernise its recommendations on employment conditions in the insurance industry. They now feature an explicit commitment to developing and strengthening employability.