How Insurance Businesses Can Overcome Common Cat Season Staffing Challenges

About 90% of catastrophe-related losses over the past decade have occurred between October and April, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).  

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that warmer ocean temperatures are expected to increase the likelihood of severe cyclones this season (CAT season), and many communities across the north and east face flood threats. Heatwaves and fire weather days are also predicted to increase, with fire authorities advising heightened risks in parts of Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania.  

The ICA highlights the unpredictability of storm season in Australia, emphasising that extreme weather can strike anywhere at any time. With the cost of home repairs and rebuilding having risen by 27% since 2020, insurers are under immense pressure to respond quickly when emergencies happen.  

The ability to quickly recruit the additional staff required to effectively manage the significant increase in claims volumes when disaster strikes is crucial for insurance businesses in this climate. Below we talk about how CAT season affects insurance recruitment and how insurers should hire to prepare for the usual demands of the season. 

How Catastrophe Season (CAT Season) Affects Insurance Recruitment 

CAT season places enormous strain on insurance companies, as the demand for skilled professionals surges as fast as the weather changes. Insurers need to scale their operations quickly to meet increased claims volumes, which requires sourcing the right candidates with very little lead time. The challenge is compounded by the need for staff to possess specific skills, experience, and availability to operate effectively during this period. Here are some trends our team have seen in previous years during this season: 

• Increased demand for local staff: Insurers often struggle to recruit local staff near disaster-affected areas, as the pool of available and qualified candidates can be limited while insurance companies compete for the same talent 

• Need for specialised skills: Temporary staff must have communication, teamwork, and, in most cases, industry-specific knowledge to assist with claims processing and customer support 

• Time-sensitive recruitment: The urgency to deploy teams rapidly adds further complexity to the hiring process, making preparation ahead of time essential 

Without a structured recruitment strategy, insurers may face delays that impact response times, customer satisfaction, and overall recovery efforts. 

How to Tackle Common Insurance Recruitment Challenges During CAT Season 

Recruiting the right staff quickly becomes essential to supporting affected individuals, businesses, and communities during these critical periods. To ensure your business is prepared for the next CAT season, consider the following steps: 

1. Build and maintain talent pools

Having pre-identified candidates with relevant skills and experience ensures you can deploy staff quickly when disaster strikes. Partnering with recruitment specialists can help you access a ready-to-go talent pool of temporary, casual, and permanent candidates. 

2. Focus on candidates in the right location

When recruiting for claims assessors, adjusters, and disaster recovery personnel, it’s important to source local candidates who can access disaster zones quickly for efficient response. Work with recruiters who understand regional challenges and have access to candidates in high-risk areas. 

3. Prioritise communication and teamwork skills

You should expect temporary employees to seamlessly integrate into your way of work. This will allow you to keep the business running efficiently, especially during this critical period.  

Prioritise candidates with strong communication skills who can liaise effectively with brokers, assessors, clients, and repair teams while maintaining a professional approach during high-pressure situations. 

Employers can identify these skills through structured interviews, role-specific assessments, and behavioural questions that focus on real-world scenarios, such as handling complex claims or managing communication during disaster responses.  

A recruitment agency can manage these processes on your behalf, leveraging their expertise and testing to evaluate candidates’ abilities efficiently and ensure the best fit for your needs. 

4. Leverage industry-experienced candidates, but don’t be too picky!

Candidates with prior insurance experience bring valuable knowledge and can significantly reduce onboarding times. Claims managers and assessors with industry expertise can deliver a seamless and empathetic customer experience during crises. 

On the other hand, being open to candidates who don’t possess industry experience, but do possess great communication and problem-solving skills, will help you find employees faster. Consider looking outside of the insurance talent pool and find candidates who have great customer service and transferrable skills that would allow them to handle claims and other customer enquiries. 

5. Partner with specialised recruiters

Recruitment agencies with insurance industry expertise, like ours, can identify and engage the right talent quickly. Specialists understand the nuances of catastrophe season and can anticipate your staffing needs. 

With several recruiters who have worked hands-on within the insurance industry, we know how to source the most valuable candidates for our insurance clients, whether they are needed on a temporary, casual, or permanent basis. 

Fuse has recruited for insurance businesses in both rural and city locations and have built an engaged pool of candidates who are ready to work in those locations. Our vast networks and strategic placement of our offices make it easier for us to find top talent in disaster-prone areas.  

If your business needs assistance hiring temporary employees for the upcoming peak season, why not reach out to us here?