In today’s competitive job market, retaining top talent in the skilled trades sector is more important than ever. With a shortage of skilled workers, employers need to be proactive in creating a positive workplace culture, offering competitive compensation, and providing opportunities for growth and development.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to keep good employees, retain staff, and attract and retain talent in the transport/equipment, oil, gas & mining, and manufacturing & warehousing industries.
Why do skilled tradespeople leave their jobs?
One of the primary reasons that skilled trades employees leave their jobs is a lack of opportunities for growth and development. Employers can address this issue by offering training and development programs that allow employees to acquire new skills and advance in their careers. For example, a mining company could offer training programs for heavy equipment operators to learn new technologies or safety protocols.
Another reason employees may leave is a lack of work-life balance. Long hours and inflexible schedules can lead to burnout and employee turnover. By offering flexible scheduling options, such as a compressed workweek or telecommuting, or benefits like paid time off and parental leave to support employees’ work-life balance, employers can keep their staff happy and retain them.
The labor market shortage
Canada, like many other countries, is facing a skilled labor gap, which has led to an increase in the number of foreign workers. While hiring non-Canadian workers can help fill this gap, employers should focus on creating a positive workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion to retain their staff. By offering opportunities for growth and development, employers can retain the best staff, reduce their turnover, and lessen their dependency on foreign workers.
Best practices for creating a positive workplace culture
Creating a positive workplace culture is essential for attracting and retaining talent. Employers can do this by promoting open communication, recognizing employee achievements, and offering opportunities for interaction outside of work. In the manufacturing sector, for example, an employer may organize a company-wide team-building event or offer an employee recognition program.
4 Tips for offering competitive compensation and benefits packages
Competitive compensation and benefits packages are essential for attracting and retaining talent. In addition to traditional benefits like health insurance and retirement plans, employers should also consider offering some of the following incentives:
Non-financial incentives
Things like flexible scheduling, wellness programs, and paid time off are great ways to retain your best staff, and you can tailor these additional benefits to suit the workforce. For example, a transportation company may offer a wellness program that includes gym memberships and healthy eating initiatives.
Providing a safe working environment
Employees want to feel safe and supported while on the job, especially in industries like mining and manufacturing where there may be higher risks of injury. Employers can prioritize safety by implementing rigorous safety protocols, providing ongoing safety training, and regularly reviewing and updating safety procedures.
Competitive wages
While non-financial incentives are important, employees ultimately want to be fairly compensated for their work. Employers should conduct market research to ensure that their wages are competitive with industry standards and adjust as necessary.
Opportunities for career advancement
This is another key factor in retaining top talent. Employees want to feel like they have a future with the company and opportunities for growth and promotion. Employers can provide this by offering training and development programs, regular performance evaluations, and clear paths for advancement within the organization. By investing in their employee’s career development, employers can retain top talent and reduce turnover.
Conclusion
In today’s competitive job market, retaining top talent in the skilled trades sector is more important than ever. Employers can retain the best staff by offering opportunities for growth and development, promoting work-life balance, creating a positive workplace culture, and offering competitive compensation and benefits packages. By taking a proactive approach to talent management, employers can attract and retain the best talent, reduce turnover, and close the skilled labor gap.
Need to hire skilled workers? Workforce Staffing Solutions can help
If you need new talent to support your best people, or if you’re looking to take skilled people on to become the new fresh faces of your company, Workforce Staffing Solutions are the answer. Whether you’re in need of engineers, welders, or construction workers, we can help you find the right people to meet your staffing needs. Contact our expert team today and let us help you to build a workforce that not only excels for you, but one that sticks around.