Training for retention

In most things, an investment is a sign of commitment. You want something to work and to work well, so you put in the necessary resources to make that happen.

The same principle works with employees. Investing in your workforce through training is an excellent way to promote safety on the jobsite while making your crews even more efficient. There also appears to be evidence that your training efforts can have a real impact on employee retention.

Our partners at human resources firm BirdDog cite the Society of Human Resource Management in saying there are four main reasons why employees leave their jobs — employee dissatisfaction; better opportunities elsewhere; changes of plans; and negative experiences on the job. The younger sections of the workforce, millennials and Generation Z, now fill a third of all jobs and heavily prefer jobs that provide career growth and development. BirdDog says nearly 90 percent of them rate those traits as being very important factors when considering a position.

The right training can address most of the issues mentioned above. Take a look at this article from our national AGC magazine for some tips on how to upskill your workforce while boosting satisfaction. And remember, your membership with AGC of Washington opens the door to many training opportunities not found elsewhere. Head over to our website and events calendar for more information.