Property and casualty insurers and agents and brokers led theway for insurance-industry employment gains in December 2013,although the figures for P&C carriers have been recalibrated,throwing off some of the historical employment figures reported in2013.

In an analysis of the latest U.S. Labor Department's Bureau ofLabor Statistics, Insurance Information Institute President RobertHartwig says P&C carrier employment figure forDecember—526,300—actually represents a drop of nearly 3,000 fromthe total reported last month, but an increase from the revisedNovember 2013 report of 523,700.

Hartwig explains, “The BLS once a year recalibrates theemployment estimates based on new census data and new seasonaladjustment weights; this year the changes had the effect ofreducing the P&C numbers that had been reported all during2013.”

The revised figures show P&C carrier employment rising everymonth from April to December, while the previous data showedemployment falling in April and September.

Hartwig also says that, previously, P&C carrier employmenthad been reported at 515,600 in February 2012, indicating apreviously-reported 20-month positive trend from then untilNovember 2013 of 13,600 additional jobs. The revised numbers,though, say February 2012 employment was 528,900, showing a declineover the 20-month period to 523,700 in November 2013.

For agents and brokers, the positive news that began in June2013 continues. The subsector added 1,100 jobs in December and hasadded 14,300 jobs over the most recent six months.

Hartwig notes the march continues to the subsector'spre-recession employment peak of 682,100 in July 2007. Employmentstood at 673,500 as of December.

As for other insurance subsectors, reinsurers added 200 jobs inDecember, life insurers added 700, health/medical direct added 900and third-party administrators added 300. Claims adjusters shed 400positions, and title and other direct and “all otherinsurance-related activities” both lost 200 positions.