You might be thinking that having an established career ladder does not make sense for an industry like construction. However, having a clear development path for employees has an enormous range of benefits – regardless of whether they are working at a desk or on a job site – and far too few companies take advantage of something so simple.

It does not matter if you employ ten people or a couple hundred; it is important to have specific criteria that let individuals know what they need to achieve before they can move to a higher position – and, of course, to enjoy the larger pay rate that comes along with that.

In this article, we will discuss some of the major benefits of having a well-defined career ladder – both for employees and employers.

Provides clear direction

By clearly laying out expectations during the interview and onboarding process, your employees will know what to expect before they even set foot on the job. Having objective parameters also makes having conversations about raises and promotions much easier in the future, which is why it is important to have all of this information in writing to refer back to it at any given point in time. It also ensures that team members who work on different job sites or have different forepersons are treated – and rewarded – fairly. Long story short: it will make your life a whole lot easier.

Creates an environment of growth

By speaking openly about the career ladder within your organization, you are more likely to attract motivated staff. These are individuals who want to know how they can grow within your company. In addition, by giving them actionable goals to work toward, you provide a sense of purpose and motivate them to succeed.

A career ladder is also an excellent way to identify and cultivate leaders within your construction company. You can make attributes like problem-solving, team building, and conflict management essential for advancement.

Decreases turnover

When you have a clearly defined career ladder, you are more likely to promote from within. This indicates to your team that you are dedicated to them and their professional future. In turn, your employees are likely to show more loyalty toward the company, decreasing burnout and turnover rates.

Finding reliable staff that you can trust is important in any industry – and can be particularly challenging in construction. So much time and energy are invested in recruitment and hiring; however, by developing a clear path of development within your company, you can allocate these resources to growing and strengthening your team.

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