Higher turnover. An aging workforce. Surging demand. Construction businesses face a trio of challenges stressing their workloads and their workers. So how are construction owners attracting and keeping their best talent?

In today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley discuss how builders can empower their workforces with Benji Carlson of Breakthrough Academy. The Canada-based construction company consultant seeks to help transform honest, hardworking contractors across North America into thriving entrepreneurs.

Benji highlights strategies to engage, retain and develop your workers, including how to rethink the compensation question.

WHY DO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES STRUGGLE TO HIRE AND KEEP THEIR TOP TALENT?

“A lot of construction companies struggle to create and articulate a clear career path for people. High performers don't want a dead-end job. And a lot of people, a lot of owners don't, I think put themselves in the shoes of an applicant, of a candidate, enough.”

HOW ARE CONSTRUCTION OWNERS SUCCESSFULLY MAPPING CAREER PATHS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES? “They're thinking through how their organizational chart is designed. And they're linking one step, one node on the system to a higher one, to a higher one, to a higher one. They're getting very clear on what skills, what aptitudes the person needs to develop to move up, what results that business owner would need to see from the employee to move them up. So, it's not just giving promotions willy-nilly. There is actual measurable stuff that you need to see.”

LINKS AND MORE

Related content:

Read more about why the construction industry’s churning workers faster than other industries.

Listen to more advice from Benji on charting career paths for your best employees.

Download Breakthrough Academy’s training checklist for retaining top talent.

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