Insurance remains one of the pillars of South Africa’s financial system. The Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) ensures that skills development keeps pace with the rapid changes transforming this industry, from digital platforms to microinsurance tailored for low-income communities.

Still, the sector faces an employment paradox. Thousands of finance and business graduates remain unemployed, even as companies seek specialised skills in data analysis, compliance, and digital platforms. The central question becomes: how can South Africa align education with the insurance industry’s needs to close these mismatches and absorb more graduates into meaningful work?

Entrepreneurship presents another opportunity. With the rise of fintech and digital-first insurance startups, small businesses and innovators are emerging as drivers of change. The policy challenge is whether these SMEs can be supported to generate sustainable jobs for youth and women while deepening financial inclusion. Without such support, the sector risks concentrating opportunity in a few large firms while leaving others behind.

The threat of retrenchments is real. Traditional insurance firms are restructuring in response to technology, automation, and consumer shifts. Many employees face uncertainty as roles in administration and sales are replaced by digital tools. Can retrenched workers be redirected into customer service, advisory roles, or fintech entrepreneurship? These are the pathways that will determine whether transformation is inclusive or exclusionary.

INSETA’s mandate to channel the skills levy into demand-led programmes, aligned with the National Skills Development Plan 2030, is crucial. If executed well, the sector can become a hub of financial innovation and job creation.