Insuring Ohio Futures Partners with National African American Insurance Association to Host Insurance Career Fair

COLUMBUS – The Ohio insurance industry needs to hire 26,000 skilled workers by 2020, according to a workforce study recently commissioned by the Insurance Industry Resource Council (IIRC).  The exodus of retiring baby boomers will create thousands of job openings in over 100 different identified careers according to the industry study.

To promote the career opportunities in insurance, IIRC’s Insuring Ohio Futures program is partnering with National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) and Franklin County Jobs and Family Services (FCJFS) to host an insurance industry career fair on Saturday, August 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FCJFS office (1721 Northland Park Ave., Columbus, OH 43229).

“While most people think only about the sales jobs in insurance, there are a wide variety of careers ranging from customer service representatives, claims investigators, marketing and communications, IT professionals to underwriting,” said IIRC co-chair Bob Restrepo, president, chairman and CEO of State Auto Insurance Companies. “We need a wide range of skills in the industry to fill a wide variety of jobs. Odds are we have a position to fit your skills in insurance.”

Ohio currently ranks seventh nationally in insurance employment with over 95,000 Ohioans working in the industry. Central Ohio has the largest concentration of insurance employment followed by Cincinnati and Cleveland, however, insurance jobs exist in all 88 Ohio counties.

“The insurance industry provides a wide variety of careers and in the coming years, there will be an increased need to fill vacant positions,” said Keita Marville, NAAIA Columbus chapter president. “This creates a massive opportunity to have a diverse demographic of insurance professionals which will mirror the customers that we serve. Quite frankly, there is no better time to be part of the Ohio insurance industry where not only is the average income more than $62,000, but more importantly we have the ability to provide a service that directly impacts the various communities in which we live.”

The free career fair will feature some of central Ohio’s largest insurance companies, which will provide a chance for central Ohioans who want to learn more about careers in insurance to meet with employers and to see the opportunities available.

Also on hand will be central Ohio colleges and universities that offer insurance certificates and degrees to discuss educational opportunities for students, veterans and career-changers.

Job seekers who are interested in attending the August 9 free event are encouraged to register in advance at the career fair’s Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.com/e/naaia-insuring-ohio-futures-career-fair-tickets-12371959865.