I work in the industrial contracting world, and like a lot of people, we’ve been hit hard by turnover... especially among skilled trades. We used to think higher pay was the answer (and it helps), but it’s not the whole story.

At Stable Works LLC, we’ve been experimenting with a few things that actually seem to make a difference:
• Giving crews more predictable schedules instead of constant overtime
• Pairing new hires with long-timers for on-the-job mentoring
• Building paths for advancement so people can see a future here, not just a job

None of it’s perfect, but we’ve seen retention improve noticeably. Curious what others are doing, what’s worked (or backfired) for you?

I’d love to hear from other general contractors or tradespeople- what actually keeps people staying with your company, in your line of work?