{"id":1415,"date":"2017-03-01T15:44:53","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T15:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=1415"},"modified":"2026-02-16T05:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:30:04","slug":"stop-brain-drain-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/stop-brain-drain-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stop the brain drain in construction"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to stop the brain drain in construction\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2017-03-01T15:44:53-05:00\">March 1, 2017<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to stop the brain drain in construction\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/stop-brain-drain-construction\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/debcarpenterbeck\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/04\/CRE-Deb-Carpenter-Beck.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"CRE Deb Carpenter-Beck\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Deb Carpenter-Beck<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the words of singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, \u201cthe times they are a changin\u2019\u201d when it comes to today\u2019s workforce. These words especially hold true for long-held beliefs about older workers. As I mentioned in my previous post, people are working longer\u2014and not just because they have to. That\u2019s good news for a construction industry worried about a skilled labor shortage and the brain drain that occurs when employees retire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/cps\/cpsaat18b.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">latest numbers<\/a> from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in five workers in the construction industry is age 55+. You can easily see how retaining at least some of these workers could be beneficial to an industry where the employment rate is expected to continue to grow into the 2020s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recognizing the value of older workers, The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) has launched an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/hr-today\/trends-and-forecasting\/research-and-surveys\/pages\/aging-workforce-research-initiative.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">initiative<\/a> to identify best practices for employing an aging workforce. Based on their research, it seems many companies have not yet reset their thinking related to the potential of older workers. Two-fifths of organizations surveyed indicated the increasing age of their workforce has <em>not<\/em> prompted changes in retention (42%), recruiting (42%), or general policy practices (41%). However, two-fifths of HR professionals that have made changes are currently finding that it is easy or extremely easy to retain older workers and one-fifth to one-quarter feel the same way about recruiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So how can you take steps to attract and retain the best workers 50+ and over? Here are a few tips based on information from SHRM:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Give older workers incentive to stay and accept positions at your company<\/strong>. Older workers want a friendly work environment where they feel valued by co-workers and supervisors. They also want meaningful work, flexible schedules, and opportunities to learn. Creating and promoting this type of workplace is step one. (By the way, this sounds a lot like what millennials want as well.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Offer support for retirement planning<\/strong>. Employees don\u2019t always know exactly what it will take to retire and consequently run the risk of retiring too early. Providing retirement planning services will help older workers better understand what they will need financially, encouraging them to stay on until they feel the most secure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consider looking at retirees as a recruiting pool<\/strong>. In SHRM\u2019s 2014 Older Workers survey, 66 percent of responding organizations reported they employ workers who retired from other organizations or careers before joining their company. Top factors influencing their return to work were financial, enjoyment, health care, and social interaction. Don\u2019t discount this group in your recruiting efforts. Also look at your company\u2019s own retirees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use referrals to recruit<\/strong>. Currently, the most popular way to recruit older workers is through networking and employee referrals. This may change as competition for older workers is likely to increase and other recruiting methods are added.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tap into and support re-training programs<\/strong>. There will always be displaced workers whose current skills are no longer in high demand. Connect with retraining programs to make sure your company is seen as well suited for talented individuals\u2014old and young\u2014who are reinventing their careers<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, some older employees will be ready for retirement sooner than others. In those cases, make sure you have processes and systems in place to transfer their expertise and knowledge to other workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to take a closer look at how older workers can help you address staffing issues? &nbsp;I was impressed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/hr-today\/trends-and-forecasting\/research-and-surveys\/pages\/aging-workforce-research-initiative.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">templates, tools, and information<\/a> available on SHRM\u2019s website specifically targeted at helping organizations prepare for and employ an aging workforce. I\u2019d recommend starting there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For other construction and staffing information, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-construction\/\">visit our<\/a><\/em><em>&nbsp;web page.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the words of singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, \u201cthe times they are a changin\u2019\u201d when it comes to today\u2019s workforce. These words especially hold true for long-held beliefs about older workers. As I mentioned in my previous post, people are working longer\u2014and not just because they have to. That\u2019s good news for a construction [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":1291,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"47","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[50],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[246],"coauthors":[522],"class_list":["post-1415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","business_type-growing-business","industry-construction-and-real-estate"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Deb Carpenter-Beck","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/skender-2026_cc-1.jpg","imagine_tags":{"246":"Construction"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1415"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1415\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=1415"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}