According to ActivTrak’s 2025 State of the Workplace report, the insurance industry ranks second among all sectors1 with 6 hrs 35 mins of daily productive time, trailing only logistics. This is 18 mins above the cross-industry average and reflects a 2% improvement — signaling that insurance employees have embraced highly efficient work practices.
This achievement is even more notable when it comes to focus. Insurance professionals log 4 hrs 37 mins of daily focus time — ranking third across all industries and 26 mins longer than the average. This high level of focused work is a positive indicator that supports the deep work required for underwriting, claims processing and compliance activities.
But the standout metric is productive session time. At 36 mins 27 secs, insurance ranks first across all sectors — more than 12 mins above the industry average. Even more impressive, this figure represents a 64% increase, the largest improvement of any industry, signaling major gains in workflow efficiency.
Over the next few years, realizing efficiencies and enhancing experience (for both customers and employees) could turn out to be more important than measuring direct business growth. (Source: Deloitte)
Leading in Employee Well-being
The insurance industry pairs strong productivity with one of the healthiest workforces. ActivTrak data shows that 75% of insurance employees maintain healthy work patterns — ranking third across all industries and 5% above the cross-industry average.
This balance may give insurance companies a recruiting edge. As more professionals prioritize well-being and work-life balance, healthy work patterns become a differentiator in a competitive labor market.
Burnout risk has also declined, with only 6% of employees at risk — a 31% drop from 2023. This improvement suggests that insurance organizations are driving productivity without compromising employee well-being.
Weekend Work Patterns
Five percent of insurance employees work weekends,2 — in line with the cross-industry average. What stands out is how those employees spend their time:
- Saturday only: 6 hrs 32 mins
- Sunday only: 5 hrs 32 mins
- Saturday and Sunday: 6 hrs 54 mins
Those who work both days log nearly 1.5 hrs more than Sunday-only workers, highlighting variation in weekend workload among employees.
Technology Adoption Trends
ActivTrak data also reveals key insights about AI adoption in the insurance sector.
Currently, 51% of insurance employees use AI tools — 7% below the cross-industry average and 17th among 23 industries. However, that number represents a 132% increase, showing rapid growth in adoption.
Insurance professionals spend an average of 8 mins 48 secs daily using AI tools — slightly below the cross-industry average. This moderate level of adoption may allow employees to maintain the high focus time that currently distinguishes the industry.
Companies may see higher retention rates when they communicate how technology will benefit employees, not replace them. Quelling fears and encouraging confidence can lead to employees who take chances, try new things, and innovate often. (Source: Risk & Insurance)
As adoption grows, industry leaders should continue to monitor how AI affects employee focus time and overall work patterns.
Contextualizing Industry Performance
The broader cross-industry workplace trends from the report provide valuable context:
- The average workday is 36 mins (7%) shorter while being 2% more productive
- 70% of employees maintain healthy work patterns — the highest level in three years
- Remote-only workers show the highest daily productivity (+29 mins) vs. other worker types
- AI users show longer workdays (+8 mins), more collaboration time (+17 mins), but less focus time (-27 mins)
Insurance appears to be at the forefront of the shift toward more efficient, balanced work — embracing the "shorter but more productive" workday while maintaining industry-leading focus.
Looking Ahead
As the insurance industry navigates regulatory shifts, competitive disruption and talent shortages, balancing productivity with well-being will be key to long-term success. Organizations that preserve focus while strategically adopting new technologies and flexible work models will be best positioned to drive both business growth and employee satisfaction.
Learn more about workplace productivity trends in ActivTrak's 2025 State of the Workplace report.
Note: 1Dataset: N=774 companies with 23+ industries represented. Unless noted, all findings represent year-over-year comparisons between 2022 and 2024. 2Dataset: N=613 companies, comprising 45,439 employees of which 2,159 employees (4.8%) are weekend workers.
