A rise in residential-construction projects in pockets around the country—namely in Boston, Texas and Northern California—and a growing need for skilled workers will characterize the construction industry throughout 2013 and into 2014, says Tom Varney, head of Allianz's Risk Consulting business. And that's where proper risk management, job training and loss control will become critical.

"Most contractors are busy, and the trend this year and in 2014 is there are going to be more construction projects and more approvals for big construction projects," says Varney, who oversees engineering risk consulting and Property risk consulting. His scope includes the construction industry, construction projects, building codes and builder's risk.

Allianz Risk Consulting offers liability products and consultations in environmental liability; product liability and recall; liability for pharmaceuticals and clinical trials; information and communication technologies (ICT); facility management; product tampering; employers' liability; and risk assessments in several major industries—oil and gas, power plants, renewable energy, heavy industry, electrical engineering and buildings & construction, including structural and civil engineering.