Improving the retention of construction professionals: A soft HRM approach

Understanding the career development of construction professionals is fundamental to developing HR policies to secure their retention. The objective of this research was to determine the factors and inter-related decisions that had influenced the career dynamics of construction managers and professionals, and to develop a framework of soft HRM practices aimed at improving their retention through enhanced career development opportunities. The research employed a primarily qualitative methodology to collect detailed career history profiles of the informants. These data were used to establish the factors leading to high staff turnover. The research provided insights into: the decision-making processes made by construction professionals in developing their careers; the resultant effects that these strategies had on their career dynamics; the compatibility and conflicts between personal action and resolutions; and the HR policy of large construction companies. The paper concludes by offering a soft HRM framework for improving the retention of construction professionals, which takes account of the factors causing staff turnover which emerged from the analysis.