Retaining Workers for the Future

Retaining Workers for the Future

With a looming skilled trades shortage, the OHBA Job Ready Program is working to close the gap in Ontario’s residential construction workforce by providing the industry with well-trained entry-level workers looking for a fruitful career in home building. In addition to recruiting, training and placing tomorrow’s talent, the program emphasizes the role of retention in our industry’s long-term success.

A strong retention strategy is one of the most effective tools to strengthen the foundation of a team. When prioritizing retention, you not only save time on recruitment and onboarding, but you invest in the future of your team as well. According to LinkedIn’s 2022 Global Talent Trends Report, retention rates in the construction industry rise from 50% to 70% when employers and employees work together to achieve internal promotions and career mobility. When employers play an active role in charting a career path for their workers, it’s more likely that employees will stay to see that path come to fruition.

To enhance retention potential, the OHBA Job Ready Program provides ongoing one-toone support individualized to the participant’s needs. Employees meet with a program advisor on a weekly basis to discuss goal setting, potential career paths and continuing their professional development. Employees can also access mental health services through the program and are given a safe space to ask questions and work through challenges. Combined with the training that OHBA Job Ready employees receive, these weekly meetings increase overall employee engagement and limit absenteeism on jobsites during their three-month work placement. OHBA Job Ready Program employers see the most success with their new employees when they build upon the one-to-one support from the program long after the initial three-month work placement.

Take it from Brian Cook of Air Sealing Professionals, a Job Ready Employer: “As a small company, scaling is one of the things we always worry about. As you grow, you have to hand over the reins to the next generation of leaders in your organization, and we always feared we had a gap. Now we have two young leaders through the OHBA Job Ready Program. It’s helped us scale in a big way.” If you’re ready to invest in the future of your team, hire eager entry-level workers through the OHBA Job Ready Program!

Visit OHBAJobReady.ca for more details!