After a year of slashed demand in 2020, global oil demand surged in 2021 as the world began to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, energy demand and commodity prices are still up, indicating that the energy industry is strong (source 3). Refineries are operating at approximately 95% capacity, and many companies would like to expand operations conservatively. But, like other industries all across the country, energy companies are struggling to find and hire qualified employees to fill positions. They’re also grappling with ongoing supply chain problems that make it difficult to obtain materials and purchase or repair vital equipment. As the insurance marketplace continues to contract, prices are rising for several product lines.

After a year or two of hardening, the insurance market for senior living facilities took another hit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s new wave of compounding challenges. Brokers working with these healthcare organizations were warned to keep a wary eye on increased liability and tighter underwriting moving into 2021 (source 1).

Cyberattacks hit companies daily as malicious actors seek to benefit by preying on vulnerable business systems. While there are a myriad of different attacks plaguing organizations of all sizes, phishing is an increasingly common threat.

There are currently 3.9 billion electronic mail users around the globe, and most have a love-hate relationship with their email. This might be because the average American worker receives more than 120 emails every day. Even so, email usage is predicted to grow by another 2% - 3% each year through 2023.

Risk isn't static. Strategies that worked well in the past may no longer fit an organization's evolving risk profile. That's particularly true for workers' compensation. Claims costs continue to rise, driven by medical inflation and legal and social trends. Today, businesses and municipalities that have long self-insured their workers' compensation programs face challenges obtaining excess coverage at their planned levels, exposing them to bigger claims. An innovative program can bridge those gaps and stem growing financial exposures as long-tail claims develop over time. Working with a specialist with deep knowledge of the markets and access to these special programs can help build an effective workers' compensation program that protects employees and the organization.