News Gulf

Attraction and retention strategies for the construction industry in UAE

Construction remains a key area of growth in the Gulf. After a rocky 2016 in which job creation became stagnant, 2017 spells new hope for sectors across the region, especially that of construction and infrastructure.

According to Cooper Fitch’s UAE Salary Guide for 2017, experts expect to see increases in salary as well as the creation of new job prospects. Trefor Murphy, CEO of Cooper Fitch, said: “Overall, we predict that salaries will rise by between 4-6%, dependent on the GDP and commodity prices.”

Now is the perfect time to redouble staff attraction and retention efforts. Some 70% of organisations state that poor staff retention has a negative impact on the company in terms of morale and productivity – not to mention profits, which are hit every time we have to interview, hire and train a new recruit. For Construction Pros published an article recently outlining some snippets of wisdom that are guaranteed to keep your staff engaged over the coming months…

Provide positive feedback

Never underestimate the power of a few kind words. However, finding the balance between positive and negative feedback can be tricky. Go too soft and workers won’t improve, but be too harsh and you risk demotivating them. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, the equilibrium between positive and negative suggestions is 5.6 (positive) to 1 (corrective).

Allow them to grow

People want to progress. There is nothing worse for an ambitious staff member than for them to feel like they are no longer improving. Make the most of their positive attributes by investing in them. Provide learning opportunities, training, or ask about their long-term career goals and how you can help them on their way.

Encourage creative thinking

No revolutionary idea has ever come from inside the box. Many companies may say that they value creativity, but few have programmes that actually reward it. So provide an outlet, encourage out-of-work projects and create a culture of ingenuity. Not only will this foster innovation, it is generally more fun, too.

Make respect a priority

Diversity is the future, so start cultivating it at your company. You can do this by giving staff positive feedback, stability, transparency and empowering them with the tools they need to do the best job they can. Establishing diversity and inclusivity strategies also gives you a key thing to talk about in your attraction marketing.

Of course, one way to improve employee retention is to hire the perfect fit right away. Luckily, that’s where we come in. Sign up with us today for free and you can gain access to a wealth of excellent international graduates.