Pacific Life Polls Industry Leaders in 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey: AI Gains Ground While Talent Gap Looms

• AI adoption accelerates, with nearly half of respondents integrating or regularly using the technology
• More than two-thirds of leaders worry about workforce succession and skills gaps
• A majority expect EHR integration to reshape underwriting in the near term

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific Life, a leading provider of life insurance and annuity products, today announced the results of its 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey, capturing insights from more than 100 of the life insurance industry’s leading underwriting and insurance executives.

The survey was conducted in person at Pacific Life’s 4th Annual Underwriting Symposium, held last month in Laguna Beach, California. The event brought together industry leaders, underwriters, reinsurers, and distribution partners for executive roundtables, expert panels, and technical sessions exploring emerging risk trends, underwriting and medical advancements, digital innovation, and distribution strategy.

The results of the survey capture the perspectives of life insurance leaders on how artificial intelligence (AI), the talent pipeline, emerging data sources, and generational shifts are reshaping the future of life insurance.

AI Moves from Exploration to Experimentation

When asked about their firm’s approach to AI in underwriting, nearly 45% of respondents said AI is either actively integrated into day-to-day workflows (20%) or regularly used as a decision-support tool (24%). Even with this integration, the largest segment (38%) reported that AI initiatives remain in the pilot phase.

As adoption expands, underwriting leaders are clear about where AI is delivering the greatest value today: improving efficiency and enhancing data utilization—not replacing human judgment.

Executives identified speeding up underwriting decisions (40%) and making better use of medical and third-party data (35%) as AI’s most positive impacts. By contrast, just under 6% cited improving risk selection as the primary benefit.

“Underwriting is increasingly seen as an optimal first stop for a firm to begin integrating AI,” said Susan Ghaili, senior vice president and chief underwriter, Pacific Life. “It brings immense opportunities but also a caution: AI is accelerating the process, not redefining the profession. It’s about equipping underwriters with better tools so they can make faster and better-informed decisions.”

Underwriting Faces a Growing Talent Gap

Talent pressures are mounting across the industry, as more than two-thirds of respondents (70%) expressed concern about the long-term underwriting pipeline. According to respondents, the biggest contributors to that challenge are:

• An aging workforce and loss of institutional knowledge (38%).
• The need to balance automation with human expertise (20%).
• Difficulty attracting younger talent (18%).

“This is a pivotal moment for our industry,” said Ghaili. “We must bring forward a new generation of underwriters who can embrace advanced technology, without losing sight of the critical-thinking and risk acumen at the heart of our profession.”

Health Data and Customer Demand Drive the Next Wave of Change

Respondents expect structured health data to play a defining role in underwriting’s future, with more than half (52%) identifying electronic health records (EHRs) as the data source likely to have the greatest impact on the industry over the next three to five years. This is well ahead of prescription and claims data (21%) and wearables and/or continuous health monitoring (16%).

A majority (57%) also anticipate that younger customers’ expectations for faster, digital-first experiences will be the most significant generational force shaping the industry over the next decade. Together, these findings suggest underwriting’s transformation will be driven by the integration of robust health data to deliver faster, more seamless customer experiences.

Talent and Technology Converge

Insights from the 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey highlight an industry moving forward with intention. As underwriting leaders blend advanced technology with experienced risk acumen and invest in talent development, they are strengthening the foundation for sustained success. Pacific Life remains committed to collaboration and to advancing solutions that strengthen underwriting decisions, enhance customer experiences, and support the industry’s future.

Survey Methodology

Pacific Life’s 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey collected answers from 103 senior underwriting executives across the industry from various companies. The executives were surveyed in-person at the 4^th Annual Pacific Life Underwriting Symposium, which was held in Laguna Beach, California from February 22-24, 2026.

About Pacific Life

Pacific Life provides a variety of products and services designed to help individuals and businesses in the retail, institutional, workforce benefits, and reinsurance markets achieve financial security. Whether your goal is to protect loved ones or grow your assets for retirement, Pacific Life offers innovative life insurance and annuity solutions, as well as mutual funds, that provide value and financial security for current and future generations. Supporting our policyholders for nearly 160 years, Pacific Life is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit PacificLife.com.

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