Progressive ramps up hiring with 12,000 new jobs and AI-powered recruiting

Progressive Plans to Hire 12,000 Workers in 2025, Using AI to Manage High Volume Applications

Progressive is set to expand its workforce significantly this year, aiming to hire over 12,000 employees. This marks an increase from 10,000 new hires last year. The company anticipates receiving hundreds of thousands of applications, and to handle this influx, it's turning to AI to streamline the recruitment process.

Strong Business Growth Drives Hiring Needs

The surge in hiring reflects Progressive’s ongoing business expansion. In 2024, the company added more than 5 million insurance policies, with net premiums climbing 21% to $74.4 billion. The growth momentum continued into 2025 with 1.3 million new policies in the first quarter alone.

About 5,000 new hires will support this growth directly, focusing mainly on claims and contact center roles, which make up half of Progressive’s workforce. Additional hires will fill vacancies from internal promotions and attrition. The legal department is also a key focus, as more policies and claims require increased legal support.

Competitive Hiring Environment and Remote Work Advantage

Despite a challenging hiring market, Progressive is attracting strong candidate interest. The company typically receives around 800,000 applications yearly, but certain roles like digital and communication manager have seen application numbers jump significantly—up to 178 from about 30 previously.

Finding candidates who fit the skill requirements and thrive in Progressive’s inclusive culture remains the main challenge. The company’s remote and hybrid work policies, available for most roles across claims, customer care, IT, legal, and corporate functions, provide a competitive edge. Unlike some competitors enforcing return-to-office mandates, Progressive’s flexible approach appeals to talent seeking remote options.

AI Enhances Recruitment Efficiency

Handling hundreds of thousands of applications manually is impossible. Progressive uses AI to forecast hiring needs, source candidates, and reduce recruiter workload. One key innovation is asynchronous video interviews, which let candidates respond on their own schedule. AI analyzes these interviews to assess candidate fit, while human recruiters make the final decisions.

AI tools increase decision-making speed and help solve recruitment challenges, but the human element remains central to the process.

Prioritizing Candidate Experience

Speeding up hiring with AI raises expectations for candidate experience. About 25% of applicants are current or potential Progressive customers, so negative experiences could affect future business. The recruitment team is focused on providing constructive feedback and suggesting alternative roles when appropriate.

AI supports these efforts by handling administrative tasks, allowing recruiters to engage more meaningfully with candidates.

For those interested in how AI tools can be used effectively in recruitment and beyond, exploring resources like Complete AI Training’s latest courses can provide valuable insights.