How to stop the brain drain in construction
In the words of singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, “the times they are a changin’” when it comes to today’s workforce. These words especially hold true for long-held beliefs about older workers. As I mentioned in my previous post, people are working longer—and not just because they have to. That’s good news for a construction […]

- Give older workers incentive to stay and accept positions at your company. 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.)
- Offer support for retirement planning. Employees don’t 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.
- Consider looking at retirees as a recruiting pool. In SHRM’s 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’t discount this group in your recruiting efforts. Also look at your company’s own retirees.
- Use referrals to recruit. 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.
- Tap into and support re-training programs. 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—old and young—who are reinventing their careers