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Survey Report

Insurance Marketplace Realities 2025 Spring Update – Construction

May 2, 2025

U.S. rates vary by location, judicial environment, risk profile, and project type. Higher hazard projects like street construction face ongoing rate pressure.
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insurance-market-updates
Rate predictions: Construction
  Trend Range
General liability Flat, (Neutral decrease) Flat to +8%
Auto liability and physical damage Flat, (Neutral decrease) +7% to +20%
Workers compensation Flat, (Neutral decrease) –2% to +4%
Umbrella (lead) Flat, (Neutral decrease) +6% to +15%
Excess Flat, (Neutral decrease) +7% to +20%
Non-high hazard Nat-Cat project specific builders risk Flat, (Neutral decrease) 0% to +5%
High hazard Nat-Cat project specific builders risk Flat, (Neutral decrease) +5% to +15%
Master builders risk/contractors block Flat, (Neutral decrease) –5% to +5%
Professional Liability Flat, (Neutral decrease) Flat to +5%
Project specific/controlled insurance programs for excess Flat, (Neutral decrease) Flat to +10% / +5% to +30%

Key takeaway

As we shift our focus to U.S. rates and future predictions, it’s important to highlight that pricing for individual accounts or projects can vary considerably due to various underwriting factors, including the geographic location of the risk where the judicial environment may significantly influence loss and claims costs, and subsequently, pricing levels. Moreover, the risk profile, which includes historical losses that are often analyzed conservatively, tends to add an extra layer of caution to an underwriter's risk assessment.

It’s worth noting that the operational characteristics of each specific risk play a crucial role in determining pricing. For example, street and road construction typically poses a much higher insurable risk compared to general contracting. Consequently, we anticipate that pressure on rates related to higher hazard exposures will persist.

The recent tariff increases applicable to building materials including steel, lumber, aluminum, are adding significant pricing pressure on construction values. As “contract value” is a very common rating basis for insurance policies, contractors and project owners may see insurance pricing increases at project inception or at the annual policy audit. Contractors and project owners should be careful about tracking specific price increases due to tariffs. This will give them the information they need to negotiate prices with their respective carriers. Specifically as pertains to Builders Risk, contractors and project owners should review “escalation clauses” within their respective policies to assure coverage limits are adequate and address limit changes accordingly.

  • Rates are expected to rise in 2025 compared to 2024, with significant increases in sectors like Auto and Umbrella/Excess lines.
  • Factors driving these increases include social inflation, nuclear verdicts, and plaintiff-friendly juries.
  • Contractors will face increased scrutiny and potential coverage limitations, especially regarding auto and driver protocols, including hired, non-owned, and third-party hauling exposures.
  • New markets are expanding product offerings and driving competitive results, but challenges remain in unsupported Auto and Lead Umbrella.
  • Markets are closely managing aggregate limits and preferring shorter limits and quota share participation to mitigate catastrophic loss exposure.
  • The Builders risk insurance market is stabilizing with increased capacity and positive treaty renewals, leading to flattening rates.
  • Quota-share arrangements are common for larger risks, and insurers are adjusting LEG3 coverage due to new legal developments.
  • Secondary Nat-Cat perils like severe storms and wildfires are leading to increased underwriting scrutiny, sublimits, and percent deductibles, with limited primary and excess capacities.
  • The stabilization of rates for Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs), Contractor- Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIPs) and other project-specific programs is facilitating better coverage, streamlined claims handling and cost savings for all stakeholders.
  • For-sale residential, coastal, mass timber, and wood-frame builds continue to face insurance challenges, while traditional non-residential construction has seen reduced spending.
  • Insurers are requiring more detailed underwriting information, particularly for projects in areas prone to natural disasters, and are implementing selective and detailed underwriting requirements to manage risks.
  • Professional Liability (PL) insurance in the construction sector continues to be competitive, maintaining stable premium rates for a broad range of exposures.
  • Insurers continue to exercise caution with managing their capacity and retention levels for both ongoing practice policies and project-specific coverage.
  • Canadian construction faces uncertainty due to potential U.S. tariffs and a pending federal election.
  • Multifamily projects, including affordable housing, remain a priority with government support and a shift to green building practices.
  • Prefabrication and AI are being adopted to address housing demands and improve project efficiency and risk management.
  • Large-scale projects face detailed underwriting, focusing on project specifics, health and safety, and technology use.

To read more, download the full report below.

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Title File Type File Size
Insurance Marketplace Realities 2025 Spring Update PDF 12.7 MB

Disclaimer

WTW hopes you found the general information provided here informative and helpful. The information contained herein is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with your own legal advisors. In the event you would like more information regarding your insurance coverage, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. In North America, WTW offers insurance products through licensed entities, including Willis Towers Watson Northeast, Inc. (in the United States) and Willis Canada Inc. (in Canada).

Contacts


Jon Oppenheim
Regional Construction Leader, North America

Construction Placement Leader, North America

Roger Cervo
Regional Construction Leader, Canada

Manuela Spyrka
Construction Broking Leader, Canada

Contact us