GK insurance leaders urge Jamaican youth to enter the sector

Senior figures at GraceKennedy’s insurance arms are calling on young Jamaicans to pursue work in the sector, describing it as a field that can deliver career advancement, cross-border options, and a tangible role in building the country.

Amanda Beepat, managing director of Allied Insurance Brokers (AIB) and a director of the College of Insurance and Professional Services (CIPS), and Tammara Glaves-Hucey, managing director of the General Insurance Business at GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG), issued the appeal as Jamaica marked World Youth Skills Day on July 15.

They argued that insurance is changing rapidly and will need a fresh cohort of trained practitioners. Their message sits against Jamaican youth unemployment of 11.7 per cent, they said, even as the worldwide insurance labour force braces for a large hand-over when long-serving staff leave the workforce.

Beepat said young people still rarely put insurance on their shortlist of careers, though the sector touches almost every part of economic life.

“Insurance is one of the most underestimated professions, yet it plays a critical role in the functioning and stability of modern society,” she said.

“It supports economic growth, facilitates investment, enables entrepreneurship, and provides individuals and businesses alike with the confidence to pursue opportunities while managing risk. Young people who are seeking a profession that combines intellectual challenge, professional and personal development and long-term relevance should seriously consider insurance.”

She cited forecasts that roughly half of today’s global insurance staff may leave through retirement over the coming 15 years. That shift, she said, will open roles in underwriting, broking, claims management, actuarial science, compliance, risk management and data analytics.

“The industry is at a notable tipping point,” she said. “As experienced professionals retire, there is an increasing need for talented young people who are prepared to build expertise and assume leadership roles. This is not simply about filling vacancies; it is about shaping the future of an industry that underpins economic activity and financial security.”

Glaves-Hucey said many youths simply do not know how broad the job landscape inside insurance has become.

“Ask a room of Jamaican teenagers what they want to become, and you will hear doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur or content creator,” she said. “Rarely will someone say underwriter, claims specialist or actuary. Yet these are professions that are increasingly in demand and offer rewarding careers for individuals with the right skills and mindset.”

The work now draws on far more than classic finance training, she added, spanning technology, cybersecurity, data analytics, customer experience, legal services and risk assessment.

“Today’s insurance professionals need expertise in areas such as technology, cybersecurity, data analytics, customer experience, legal services and risk assessment,” Glaves-Hucey said. “The profession continues to evolve alongside the risks facing society, and that creates opportunities for people with a wide range of interests and talents.”

Both women pointed to their own paths as proof of what the field can offer.

Beepat, who heads AIB — GKFG’s first subsidiary and Jamaica’s leading insurance brokerage — said insurance was not her original plan.

“What I discovered was an industry that rewards continuous learning, professional excellence, and strategic thinking. It has provided opportunities for growth that have exceeded my expectations, and I believe many young people would be surprised by what the profession has to offer,” she said.

Glaves-Hucey began as an executive assistant and, across more than 20 years, became a chartered insurer, an attorney-at-law, and the senior executive overseeing GKFG’s general insurance business in Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean.

“I did not grow up dreaming of insurance. Almost nobody does,” she said. “But I discovered an industry where curiosity is currency. Insurance rewards people who can analyse, communicate, negotiate, and solve problems. Those are skills that will always be valuable.”

She also tied recruitment of younger workers to the growing climate threat facing Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

“Every hurricane season reminds us that the Caribbean cannot develop without effective risk protection,” she said. “Insurance professionals play a vital role in helping families, businesses and communities recover and rebuild after loss. It is meaningful work that contributes directly to national development and resilience.”

Beepat and Glaves-Hucey are advising students and early-career workers to build grounding in mathematics, economics, business, information technology and communications, and to chase internships, mentorships, trainee schemes and junior posts at insurers, brokers and financial firms.

“You do not need to have every answer before you begin,” Glaves-Hucey said. “What matters is a willingness to learn, the discipline to grow, and the confidence to pursue opportunities. The insurance industry is looking for the next generation of talent, and that opportunity is available right now.”