Afni News

What Is the Demand for Bilingual Insurance Professionals?

November 23, 2023 in

Bilingual insurance professionals are employees in the insurance sector who speak a second language other than English. They are highly valuable for the insurance company because they can bring the services closer to a more diverse target group. But what is the demand for bilingual insurance professionals in 2023?

Luckily, Afni is not here to only offer you a job in the insurance industry. It is here to help you understand how the insurance sector works. By understanding the demand for bilingual insurance specialists, you can easily assess your worth on the market and determine whether that is your next career.

Let’s find out if bilingual insurance professionals are currently in demand and how multilingualism can help you find a job you will love.

What Is the Demand for Bilingual Insurance Professionals?

The insurance industry has a multilingual landscape. Insurance services are used by everyone regardless of their ethnic or racial background. Bilingual job opportunities are rising because 8.2% of American residents don’t speak English well.

Furthermore, multilingual insurance professionals are highly in demand because of the industry’s character. Often, insurance companies have partners in other countries where English is not the first language. That makes bilingual or multilingual insurance professionals a key asset for the insurance sector.

According to LinkedIn data, the overall demand for bilingual employees in the last five years has doubled. But what is the demand for bilingual insurance professionals?

In a nutshell, the demand for insurance professionals with language skills depends on the area’s demographics. The table below shows the top ten states with high diversity index and selected areas where people don’t speak English fluently.

State	Diversity Index	Selected Counties
Hawaii	76	Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai
California	69.7	San Bernardino, Fresno, Monterey, Merced, Tulare, Los Angeles, etc.
Nevada	68.8	Washoe, Humboldt, Elko, Pershing, Churchill, Lander
Maryland	67.3	Montgomery, Prince George’s, Baltimore, Caroline, Wicomico
District of Columbia	67.2	King, Franklin, Adams, Grant, Chelan
Texas	67	Sherman, Dallam, Parmer, Bailey, Garza, Hudspeth, Culberson, Reeves, Webb, Hidalgo, Kenedy, etc.
New Jersey	65.8	Essex, Passaic, Atlantic
New York	65.8	Kings, Queens, Union, Suffolk
Georgia	64.1	Colquitt, Atkinson, Charlton, Steward
Florida	64.1	Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, Hendry, Osceola, Orange, etc

In all states mentioned above, the first language of the population is commonly:

• Spanish
• Other Indo-European Languages
• Language of the Asian and Pacific Islander group

Wondering why is there a growing demand for bilingual insurance agents? Well, the answer relies on the number of residents with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). As the LEP community grows, so will the demand for bilingual insurance professionals.

In other words, a high demand for bilingual insurance employees is highly likely in the states and counties mentioned above.

Bilingualism As a Competitive Advantage

So, what role do language skills play in insurance career opportunities? Bilingualism in the insurance industry provides a significant competitive advantage. It addresses the diverse linguistic needs of the clients. The power of a bilingual insurance agent is to effectively cater to the requirements of clients with different language backgrounds.

Bilingual employees in the insurance sector can explain complex insurance policies and terms to clients with ease. It is more likely for clients to be more satisfied with the company’s services if they understand the terms and conditions of the insurance policy.

Additionally, the clients can express their needs more clearly. Then, the insurance agent can tailor the insurance policy according to the client's requirements. This will increase customer trust and loyalty.

Considering the intense competition companies face in the insurance market, bilingualism will expand their customer base and enhance their company’s reputation. By speaking a language other than English, you will be able to seamlessly serve a wider range of clients and gain a competitive advantage.

Demand as a driver for bilingual insurance professionals

The racial and cultural background of residents in America is constantly changing. According to the latest data from the Pew Research Center, the fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. between 2000 and 2019 were Asian and Hispanic. The surge in multicultural communities increases the demand for bilingual insurance professionals.

Roles and Specializations for Bilingual Professionals

The insurance sector offers many job positions for bilingual professionals. Depending on your experience, desires, and knowledge, you can work in different roles.

Many bilingual employees at Afni start off as insurance specialists and climb the professional ladder to management positions. Here are some of the most common positions open in the insurance industry for bilingual people:

• Insurance specialists
• Insurance customer care representatives
• Claims representatives
• Auditors
• Appraisers
• Claims investigators or adjusters
• Insurance underwriters and similar roles

The Language Pair Effect

An ACTFL study showed that the most in-demand foreign languages, according to businesses in the USA, are:

• Spanish
• Chinese, both Mandarin and Cantonese
• French
• Japanese
• German
• Russian
• Arabic
• Italian
• Korean
• Hindi
• Portuguese

Depending on the sector the employee works in, there is a divided need for foreign language skills for domestic-only and international needs.

In addition to the spoken languages, it’s extremely beneficial if a candidate knows sign language. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals also require insurance, and having an insurance agent who can communicate with them efficiently is highly valued.

Lastly, while hiring employees, you should pay attention to their non-verbal communication. In the insurance sector, it is really important to pay attention to what you are saying and how you say it. Also, acknowledging and controlling non-verbal language is a necessity for all insurance agents.

Recruiting Bilingual Insurance Professionals

The talent acquisition process for the bilingual insurance process typically has several phases. First, the market must be analyzed to see for which positions the bilingual staff is needed.

Then, according to the role, the second language level of proficiency is determined. At Afni, you can generally find three types of language requirements. The first one is professional working proficiency. Next are positions that require full professional or native proficiency.

After the requirements are determined, job ads are posted in both languages. In the title of the job ad, it is clearly stated that bilingual insurance professionals are required, and there might even be a second language that is needed for the position.

To assess your level of language proficiency, different techniques are used. The most common ones are doing a language proficiency test or having an interview in a second language.

During the interview, your oral proficiency can be determined, while the test focuses on your knowledge of writing, listening, and reading.

Compensation and Career Opportunities

Bilingual insurance employees can benefit from high earnings potential. However, it is important to pick the right company to work for. Also, you must take into consideration that many factors, such as experience, knowledge, and education, influence the pay range.

Companies must adhere to the state laws about bilingual pay. For instance, California has special regulations for BIlingual Pay, according to which employers must pay their bilingual specialists differential.

Working at Afni, you can expect to earn between $37,000 to $40,000 yearly base salary, plus bonuses and a $1 differential for being a bilingual insurance specialist. Here, you will have a steady job with full-time schedules and paid time off.

According to Glassdoor, the annual base pay of insurance agents in the USA might range between $38,000 and $59,000. The additional pay may be between $12,000 and $23,000.

Industry Challenges and Solutions

Building a bilingual work environment isn’t as easy as it might seem. Establishing a bilingual workplace culture requires a lot of dedication. Both bilingual and monolingual employees must feel comfortable and welcomed. At Afni, you can expect to work with colleagues with different backgrounds who will be happy to welcome you into the family.

Preparing for Future Trends

Many wonder whether are insurance companies actively seeking bilingual professionals and how will the job market look in the future. The estimations are that the demand for bilingual insurance professionals will continue to grow. Hence, hiring bilingual insurance employees is a priority.

Apply for a Bilingual Insurance Professional at Afni Today

Now that you know what is the demand for bilingual insurance professionals, it is time to take the next step and apply for a job at Afni. Take advantage of the booming demand for bilingual insurance professionals and start your next job in a promising sector.

In the future, it is expected that the insurance industry will have a growing demand for bilingual employees in the USA. With the increase of clients who don’t speak English fluently, you can be the asset that will break the language barrier.

Afni offers a lot of perks, such as tuition reimbursement, incentives, referral bonuses, paid time off, and other bonuses. Make your knowledge of a second language count and join the Afni insurance family.

About the Author

Samantha is the Recruitment Marketing Manager for Afni and brings a wealth of knowledge and tips for job seekers. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and marketing from Mount Saint Vincent University as well as a masters degree in digital marketing and advertising from Liberty University.