United Kingdom (UK) Employers Liability Insurance Market Size, Trends, Competitor Dynamics and Opportunities

United Kingdom (UK) Employers Liability Insurance Market Size, Trends, Competitor Dynamics and Opportunities


Summary

This report tracks the health and shape of the employers’ liability market - taking into account market size, profitability, performance ratios, and the claims environment. The UK’s economic growth, business landscape, and COVID-19 are all taken into consideration to build a full picture of this space. Key shifts in the market and likely future changes are analyzed for impact across all relevant stakeholders.

This market is more closely aligned to developments in the UK economy compared to other insurance lines. As the economy began to recover from the pandemic in 2022, the employers’ liability market was estimated to have grown by 7.1%, with inflation, in particular, a key factor. However, the reliance on the economy is problematic for the sector, as the UK is likely headed towards a recession, which will bring the economy to a standstill for much of 2023. The unemployment rate in the UK is increasing as more firms struggle with factors such as inflation and global supply chain issues putting pressure on profitability. The market is directly reliant on the number of businesses and employees in the UK, so this will have a negative impact on premiums.

Scope
  • The employers’ liability market grew by 19.9% in 2021, with GWP growing to GBP1.53 billion.
  • The employers’ liability market experienced a strong underwriting profit of GBP119 million in 2021.
  • The proportion of non-fatal injuries in the workplace fell by 20.4% between 2013-14 and 2021-22p, leading to fewer claims being made. However, the average claim costs increased by 13.5% from 2020 to 2021.
  • AXA is the largest employers’ liability insurer for SMEs in the UK, accounting for 9.4% of the market. Chubb became the largest general liability insurer in the UK in 2021, accounting for 9.3% of the market and growing its GWP by 36.6%.
  • The market is expected to grow by a further 7.1% in 2022, reaching GBP1.64 billion in GWP, before stabilizing to reach GBP1.87 billion by 2026.
Reasons to Buy
  • Understand the context of the UK’s economic growth and business landscape - as well as the impact of inflation, the cost-of-living living crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic - in relation to the employers’ liability insurance space.
  • Review your strategy against both existing and new challenges in this market.
  • Benchmark yourself against the market’s experience of market size, growth, performance, and the claims environment.


  • Executive Summary
    • The employers' liability market recorded strong growth in 2021 but is reliant on the struggling economy
    • Key findings
    • Critical success factors
  • Market Dynamics
    • Employers' liability GWP increased in 2021, retaining strong underwriting profit and resulting in a positive year for insurers
      • Table Figure 1: In 2021, the GWP for employers' liability insurance grew significantly
      • Table Figure 2: Growth in the number of UK businesses returned in 2022
      • Table The number of employing private sector businesses and employees in the UK, 2015-22
      • Table The number of private sector businesses by number of employees, 2016-22
      • Table Figure 3: In 2022, growth in the number of UK businesses was mainly driven by London and Northern Ireland
      • Table The number of private sector employees and businesses by industry, 2021-22
    • Employers' liability has continued to generate significant underwriting profit
      • Table Figure 4: The employers' liability market continued to make significant profits in 2021
      • Table Employers' liability ratios, 2017-21
    • After LASPO, the number of claims is still declining
      • Table The total number of personal injury claims in the employers' liability market, 2010-22
      • Table Figure 5: Settlements increased in 2021-22 following a long-term drop in registered claims
      • Table Figure 6: The average claims cost has started to rise, following a long-term drop off
      • Table Figure 7: The number of non-fatal workplace injuries is in long-term decline
      • Table Total number of fatalities and injuries in the workplace, 2014-22
    • The Civil Liability Act has been put into effect following disruptions due to COVID-19
  • Competitor Dynamics
    • Chubb takes position as the largest general liability insurer in 2021
      • Table Figure 8: Chubb led the market in 2021, with AIG and Zurich taking second and third
      • Table Leading UK general liability insurers by GWP (GBP000s), 2020-21
      • Table Figure 9: Among all SMEs, AXA is the most popular employers' liability supplier
      • Table Figure 10: Insurers mainly switch providers due to pricing considerations
  • The Market Going Forward
    • Employers' liability GWP is forecast to continue growing at a slower rate given the incoming recession's impacts
      • Table Employers' liability market GWP forecasts, 2021-26f
      • Table Figure 11: Growth in the employers' liability market will be hit by a recession
    • A number of factors will influence growth in the market
      • Table Figure 12: A significant portion of SME employees still worked remotely in 2022
      • Table Figure 13: Some SMEs are not aware that employers' liability protection is a legal requirement
  • Appendix
    • Abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
    • Definitions
    • Methodology
      • Table Figure 14: GlobalData's forecasting model
    • Secondary sources
    • Further reading
  • About GlobalData
  • Contact Us

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