The manufacturing industry has faced continuous challenges for years now when it comes to turnover — and it’s only gotten worse since the pandemic. Businesses need to find strategic ways to retain their employees and attract new talent. The best way to reach these goals is to understand why their staff are leaving manufacturing roles.

Let’s dive into the why to uncover the how in improving manufacturing industry turnover rates.

Factors that contribute to turnover

There is no concrete reason why businesses experience turnover because it varies based on the company and the conditions employees are working in. In general though, there are some consistent issues that could apply to your company, according to a 2022 Flexjobs study:

• Poor pay: The cost of living is rising and employees all over the world are resigning from their jobs to find new careers that may pay more. Ensure your pay rates are not only competitive but address the local cost of living so your staff members can live comfortably.
• Child care: For single or double-income families, child care can be a difficult hurdle to jump over. In the event of a COVID-19 outbeak, long summer vacations when school is closed or the local daycare closes, parents need options and flexibility.
• Flexible work hours: This can join hand-in-hand with child care, but flexible work hours ensure that employees have the space and time to address their life outside of work. This could include shifts that coincide with daycare hours, possible work-from-home opportunities, and the flexibility to take time off when necessary.
• Toxic work culture: Poor working conditions could include anything from a lack of diversity, equality or inclusion to poor mental health support and even direct discrimination. Company culture begins from the executive level all the way down to new hires. If you want to revamp your culture, take a look at your company mission, inclusion practices and mental health approaches.

What makes for a desirable workplace?

With a few of these turnover reasons in mind, how can you develop a business that employees are not only eager to join, but are fighting to stay at in the long-term? If company culture starts from the top down, ensure your business is run with empathy knowing that the happiness of your employees is what will keep your company moving forward.

Be sure to add job opportunities to the list of ways to keep employees happy and retained. In a statement from Blind, an anonymous professional networking platform, co-founder Kyum Kim said “Nearly 80% of employees who reported they had significant personal growth also reported they were happy in their current role.”

If turnover rates are rising at your manufacturing business, this may be a sign to take a look at how your company is run, the ethics you hold true, who you’ve appointed as management, and how much opportunity an employee has for a long future.