New APRA Data Highlights a Split Professional Indemnity Market

The headline message is encouraging, but not simple. Overall professional indemnity gross written premium across APRA-regulated insurers and Lloyd’s reportedly eased from $3.30 billion in 2023 to $3.19 billion in 2024. That supports recent commentary that parts of the market are softer, with more insurer capacity and stronger competition placing downward pressure on rates. However, the same data also shows that not every occupation or product line is benefiting equally.

For Australian consultants, advisers, engineers, designers, accountants and other professional service providers, this is an important distinction. A softer market can create opportunities to compare options, revisit limits, test excess levels and check whether exclusions still match the way the business actually operates. It should not be treated as a reason to automatically buy the cheapest policy or reduce cover without understanding the claims exposure behind the premium.

The data points to a particularly mixed picture within professional indemnity. Engineering and financial occupation premiums appear to have moderated from the sharp increases seen during the COVID-era and post-Royal Commission period. Directors and officers premiums have also fallen significantly from earlier highs. At the same time, management liability moved in the opposite direction over the latest year, showing that insurers are still pricing some governance, employment and compliance risks more cautiously.

Construction-related affordability remains a warning sign. While that pressure is more visible in public liability data, it matters for professionals connected to the built environment because insurers often assess risk across a broader project, contract and claims context. Engineers, certifiers, project managers and design consultants may still face more detailed underwriting questions where building defects, cladding, complex subcontracting or past claims are involved.

The practical takeaway is that renewal discussions should be evidence-based. Business owners should review revenue changes, services offered, client contracts, cyber and AI use, subcontractor arrangements and any new regulatory obligations before seeking terms. Independent broker support can also help explain why one insurer’s quote differs from another and whether a lower premium reflects genuine competition or reduced protection.

This story extends the broader soft-market theme already emerging in 2026. The opportunity is real, but it is uneven. Professionals who use current conditions to improve the fit of their cover, rather than simply cut cost, may be better placed when claims trends or insurer appetite shift again.