The Standard - September 3, 2010

Published Since 1865 Boston, Mass. September 3, 2010 Vol. 267 No. 5

Insurance hiring Slowing; Cos. More
Conservative About Adding Staff

CHICAGO — The majority of insurance firms will maintain staffing levels over the next year rather than adding or subtracting employees, according to a recent survey conducted by the Jacobson Group and Ward Group.

The percentage of companies expecting to grow their revenue is down slightly from 63% earlier this year, but up from 54% one year ago, according to Jacobson and Ward.

The survey found that companies are more conservative now about adding staff compared to their attitudes six months ago.

“Sixty-one percent of companies are still anticipating revenue growth over the next 12 months; only 39% of companies plan on increasing staff over the next 12 months, 11% less than the previous survey,” the survey said.

For companies that intend to increase staff, the reason tended to be plans for expansion. For 30% of respondents, the reason is that they are understaffed currently. Twenty-nine percent said they anticipate they will be growing their business, 22% have goals to improve service and 13% say they will be reorganizing.

continued on page 17

As for businesses that will be decreasing their staff, 20% at-

Category 4 hurricane earl Threatens U.S. east Coast

In This Issue Mass. AG extends Auto Regs Deadline

Quincy, Mass., to Charge Response Fees

BOSTON — At press time for The Standard, Hurricane Earl had already brought rain and fierce winds to Puerto Rico and some islands in the Caribbean, bearing down on Turks and Caicos Island.

Conn. Imposes 5-Day Reporting for Data Breach

SNL Sees Premium Growth, not Profit

It was predicted that it could bring “drenching rains” to the Eastern Seaboard from North Carolina to New England. Residents on Cape Cod were warned that the storm could make Labor Day difficult and dangerous for beachgoers.

Insurers See Smaller Reserve Cushion 8

N.h. Comp Trust to Pay Dividends 9

Standard Answers

“A small error of 100 miles in the wrong direction could be a huge impact difference,” Bill Read, National Hurricane Center director, said during a media continued on page 8

Liberty Offers Agency CSR Development

AIMS Offers Agent Bootcamp 13

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