Summary
GWP in the employers’ liability market fell to £1,108m in 2019, although insurers managed to retain strong profits as claims costs remained low. This market is more closely aligned to developments in the UK economy compared to other insurance lines. This is problematic for the sector, as the UK is likely headed towards a recession following the severe impact of COVID-19, which brought the economy to a standstill for much of 2020 and continuing into 2021. The unemployment rate in the UK is set to soar as government support such as the furlough scheme comes to an end. The market is directly reliant on the number of businesses and employees in the UK, so this will have a negative impact on premiums. Insurers may have the ability to raise premiums given the significant cuts seen in 2020, and the curtailing of claims in recent years means they may be able to endure a tough 2021.
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, COVID-19, and the post-Brexit environment are all taken into consideration to build a full picture of this space. Key announcements, shifts in the market, and likely future changes are analyzed for impact across all relevant stakeholders.
Scope
- The employers’ liability market contracted by 12.1% in 2019, with GWP falling to £1,108m. GWP is expected to have declined to £1,071m in 2020.
- The proportion of non-fatal injuries in the workplace fell by 15.3% between 2013-14 and 2019-20, leading to fewer claims being made.
- AXA is the largest employers’ liability insurer for SMEs in the UK, accounting for 8.2% of the market.
- The market is expected to contract by a further 0.3% in 2021, generating £1,068m in GWP before stabilizing to reach £1,134.65m by 2024.
Reasons to Buy
- 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 claims environment.
'
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
1.1 The employers’ liability market is dependent on the UK economy
1.2 Key findings
1.3 Critical success factors
2. Market Dynamics
2.1 Employers’ liability GWP declined in 2019, but strong underwriting profit marked a positive year for insurers
2.2 Employers’ liability has maintained strong underwriting profit
2.3 Claims numbers continue to fall post-LASPO
2.4 The Civil Liability Act has been delayed again - this time due to COVID-19
3. Competitor Dynamics
3.1 Leading general liability insurers saw swings in 2019 market shares
4. The Market Going Forward
4.1 Employers’ liability GWP is forecast to continue its decline as the pandemic’s impact will be felt
4.2 A number of factors will influence growth in the market
5. Appendix
5.1 Abbreviations and acronyms
5.2 Definitions
5.3 Methodology
5.4 Further reading
List of Tables
Table 1: The number of employing private sector businesses and employment in the UK, 2014-20
Table 2: The number of private sector businesses by number of employees, 2014-20
Table 3: The number of private sector employees and businesses by industry, 2019-20
Table 4: Employers’ liability ratios, 2015-19
Table 5: The total number of personal injury claims in the employers’ liability market, 2010-20
Table 6: Total number of fatalities and injuries in the workplace, 2013-20p
Table 7: Leading UK general liability insurers by GWP (£000s), 2018-19
Table 8: Employers’ liability market GWP forecasts, 2019-24fList of Figures
Figure 1: The employers’ liability insurance market saw a sharp decline in GWP in 2019
Figure 2: Growth in the number of UK businesses slowed in 2020 - but the worst is yet to come
Figure 3: In 2020, growth in the number of UK businesses was mainly driven by the Midlands
Figure 4: The employers’ liability market maintained strong profit in 2019 despite a slight drop off
Figure 5: The number of recorded claims has seen a long-term decline, but settlements rose in 2019-20
Figure 6: Average claims cost has remained steady in recent years
Figure 7: The number of non-fatal workplace injuries is in long-term decline
Figure 8: Zurich led the market in 2019 despite Aviva’s surge
Figure 9: AXA is the most popular employers’ liability provider among SMEs
Figure 10: Over half of respondents who switched employers’ liability provider in 2020 had COVID-19 in mind
Figure 11: Growth in the employers’ liability market will be hit by COVID-19 and Brexit
Figure 12: GlobalData’s forecasting model
