Financial services is hiring for depth, not breadth. In its review of shortage roles, the government found that recruitment in the sector was generally for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) 6+ roles, rather than RQF 3-5 GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report. RQF 6 sits at degree level, so the signal is clear: employers want qualified, higher-level specialists who can handle regulated, complex work.
That matters for insurance. As qualifications update to include data literacy and AI awareness, the people clearing the bar are those with advanced, current credentials. If your roles target that higher level, your hiring process has to find and assess it quickly, before someone else does.
The skills picture is changing fast across the whole economy. During London Tech Week 2025, the UK government announced a partnership to upskill 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030, equivalent to around 20% of the UK workforce techUK. That scale tells you AI fluency is becoming a baseline expectation, not a niche extra.
The job numbers point the same way. For the total of AI-related occupations, projections show a net change ranging from approximately 696,000 jobs in the Automation Scenario to 1,072,000 in the Technological Opportunities Scenario, with replacement demand rising from 3,077,000 to 3,193,000 jobs across these scenarios AI Skills for Life and Work: Labour market and skills projections - GOV.UK. For insurance, this means roles that blend underwriting, claims or compliance knowledge with the confidence to work alongside AI tools.
Start with the qualification level the role genuinely needs. The sector trend towards RQF 6+ roles GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report means it helps to be precise: list the specific regulated credentials, then separate what is essential from what you can develop on the job.
Next, screen for AI readiness directly. Ask how someone has used data or automation in their last role, and what they would want to learn. With a national push to upskill millions of workers in AI skills by 2030 techUK, people who are curious about these tools will keep pace as your systems change.
We search 15 million candidates to find people with the regulated qualifications and AI readiness your insurance roles need, and we manage the process end to end. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost, through Reed.ai. The fee reflects one thing, finding the right person and handling recruitment from first search to signed offer. Tell us what the role needs and we will get started today.
