Why Companies should be Supporting Employee Career Activism to Retain Key Talent

Andrew Crawford Country Manager, LHH Ireland

In today’s workplace, linear career progression is no longer a certainty and more employees are exploring careers and opportunities that enable them to achieve greater work life balance and personal achievement.

Skills needs are also changing faster than ever before. The rise of disruptive innovations like AI and automation has seen the requirements of skills in many sectors evolve, influencing the future skills of the workforce and what plans organisations are implementing now to build a future-ready workforce and lay the foundations for sustainable business growth.

At the same time, soft skills like empathy are valued within an increasingly diverse, multi-generational and global workforce.

Why Career Activism Now?

In 2022, a candidate-short market left employers with few options but to increase wage offers and get creative at attracting talent. In 2023, a darker economic climate saw the number of open job vacancies fall and redundancies rise. Ireland’s technology sector did not escape unscathed. The country accounted for the largest proportion of technology sector redundancies within the EU, largely because it hosts the European headquarters of global heavyweights such as Amazon, Google and Meta.

But this boom and bust/hire and fire cycle is not favourable for companies, as hiring is expensive and redundancy damages reputation and market sentiment. Nor is it sustainable during periods of rising costs and higher inflation, and where skill needs evolve at pace. LHH research also shows that more employees value career development with their existing employer, but those who experience a lack of support are more likely to be disengaged or look for a role elsewhere.

Career activism is where employees are empowered to take ownership of their career development. By supporting employees in their career aspirations through skill development and identifying internal career opportunities, companies can improve talent retention and build a workforce equipped to overcome internal and external business challenges now and in the future.

Laying the Foundations for Sustainable Growth

Companies can promote employee career activism and align this to business objectives to unlock sustainable growth. By empowering employees to take ownership of their career development and realise their aspirations through internal opportunities, companies encourage a groundswell of career ownership which, in turn, pushes more employees to stay career and skills fit. This culture can improve loyalty, engagement and productivity while closing potentially harmful skills gaps.

Meaningful career conversations enable line managers to provide employees with personalised options for career development inside the company. Employees can visualise and map out their future at the company and benefit from upskilling and reskilling, which supports retention.

Companies can promote employee career activism and align this to business objectives to unlock sustainable growth.