Building the next generation of property claims talent

The property claims industry is going through a significant workforce transition. Leaders everywhere are asking themselves the same question: “When the seasoned team member hands over the clipboard, who takes the pen next?”

With the average age of skilled professionals rising, technology reshaping workflows across generations and the number of retirements outpacing new hires, the future of property claims can feel uncertain.

These workforce challenges are no longer HR concerns; they’re strategic business imperatives. To build the next generation of property claims talent, today’s leaders must focus on maintaining a strong culture and demonstrating why a career in the industry is so valuable.

Strong company culture is the foundation for excellence

Successful property teams have a culture that connects, supports and inspires, ensuring every claim is handled with the highest level of care. To preserve this strong culture, both institutional and operational knowledge must be transferred to new talent.

Leaders can do this by weaving mentorship into daily workflows and encouraging cross-generational collaboration. For example, any lessons learned from past large-loss or catastrophic events should be passed down to other team members, whether through formal post-project reviews or organic everyday conversations.

Implementing quarterly check-ins, team rotations and structured peer-to-peer guidance can also help build a supportive culture. These tactics allow new talent to gain hands-on experience, feel more confident in their work and build relationships with other colleagues.

Having a steadfast culture creates a sense of stability for clients as it ensures consistent, high-quality service even as teams evolve. By prioritizing values like accountability, communication and resilience, teams create a living culture — one that can be passed down, adapted and strengthened with each new generation.

But culture alone can’t sustain a company. It requires a steady pipeline of talent prepared to carry it forward. As the industry faces both an aging workforce and shifting expectations among professionals, leaders should also focus on attracting, developing and retaining younger talent.

Driving excellence through technology

Explore our Loss Adjusting Insights Report to understand how emerging technology is attracting the next generation of property claims talent.

Learn more   →

Tactics to communicate industry value and attract talent

Property claims may not be top of mind for many students or new graduates, as they may not be familiar with the industry or understand the value of entering the field. Ultimately, leaders must demonstrate that our industry offers what many young professionals are looking for: growth potential and the chance to make a real difference with their work.

Leaders can help spread awareness among students by speaking at universities, participating in career fairs or even holding webinars with partners in areas like technology, finance or nonprofit work. Offering internship and apprenticeship programs can also help attract more young people into the field.

How Sedgwick attracts and retains property experts

At Sedgwick, we take pride in not only leading the industry but also in serving as second responders. When there’s a disaster, we’re on the ground within hours assessing damages and helping communities recover.

Whether they’re an adjuster, major loss specialist or other role, our property experts make a difference in the moments it matters most. This meaningful in-the-field work, combined with the chance to use emerging technology like AI, drones and satellite imagery, is exactly what many young people are looking for.

From day one, our property experts receive top-tier training to help them master these tools and effectively navigate real-world claim situations. Through Sedgwick’s industry-wide learning and development company, Vale Training, they develop new technical skills, earn valuable certifications and get the experience needed to build successful, long-term property careers.  

The future of property claims talent

As the industry continues to evolve, the next generation of property experts will blend deep empathy with advanced technical expertise. They’ll know how to support people in moments of crisis — and they’ll do it while using cutting-edge tools to deliver faster, smarter solutions.

Property experts who harness both heart and innovation will be the ones to move our industry forward. With a strong culture and value proposition, leaders can attract these experts and create an environment that inspires them to stay, grow and make an impact.