Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS), America’s premier risk management, insurance and actuarial science-focused collegiate talent organization gathered 900 industry professionals and students and faculty from 69 colleges and universities for its 52nd Annual International Conference in Baltimore on September 28 and 29, connecting top collegiate talent with insurance industry organizations to support the future of insurance. In addition to the 90+ exhibitor career fair, keynotes from prominent insurance professionals and career building resources for students, GIS released the organization’s 8th Annual Recruiting Survey. Those findings offer key insights from the next generation of talent related to compensation, internships, ESG, diversity, equity and inclusion and more.
The results of this year’s survey will aid employers in building a stronger industry that appeals to the next generation, proving the needs of young professionals in the workforce are changing. This year, for example, was the first time base salary topped the list of compensation considerations over health care among respondents.
“We were thrilled to see so many enthusiastic students and seasoned industry leaders join us in Baltimore to discuss the future of insurance and help these promising students get a foothold on a career in risk management, insurance and actuarial science,” said GIS Executive Director Grace Grant. “We were also once again encouraged by many of the findings in this year’s survey, particularly the fact more students (36% in 2023, compared to 25% in 2022), who had not originally intended to study insurance found their way to us.”
Additional findings of the survey included the fact that young people are prioritizing diversity in their career decisions and noticing when a lack of diversity is apparent in their work environment. In 2023, 39% of survey respondents felt there was sufficient diversity in their internship or full-time employment, which was a 22% decrease from 2022. Further, the report found that when it came to the job search, the largest group of respondents, 36%, said the primary place they look for jobs are career fairs and the GIS Annual Conference. And, students are increasingly looking for face-to-face contact when it comes to meeting with recruiters, the survey found as 91% of respondents noted this preference in 2023 up from 83% in 2022.
GIS’s Annual Recruiting Survey is open to all students and recent graduates, regardless of an affiliation with GIS, pursuing a career in risk management, insurance or actuarial sciences. Responses were gathered from 72 colleges and universities representing hundreds of students and young professionals.
The GIS network extends to more than 35,000 alumni and 4,000 students at nearly 150 colleges and universities across 40 U.S. states. To learn more about upcoming GIS events, like the 2024 Regional Conferences in Atlanta, Georgia and Cincinnati, Ohio, February 16 and 17, visit https://www.gammaiotasigma.org/events. For more information about Gamma Iota Sigma or to donate, please visit https://www.gammaiotasigma.org/.
ABOUT GAMMA IOTA SIGMA
Gamma Iota Sigma is a 501c3 organization, founded in 1965, serving a mission of promoting and sustaining student interest in careers in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science. GIS encompasses over 4,000 collegiate members from nearly 150 universities, with 100 chartered chapters across North America. As a professional student organization, GIS is uniquely positioned to represent the voice of the insurance industry’s diverse collegiate talent pipeline. The Gamma Iota Sigma Foundation will ensure equitable access for all students interested in pursuing a career in the insurance industry, regardless of their background or means, through mental health resources, professional development offerings, chapter and university grants, and accessibility grants. Through engagement with GIS the industry has a single-access point to thousands of student leaders actively pursuing careers in risk management, insurance and actuarial science. For more information, visit www.gammaiotasigma.org.