Recruiting the next generation to the green industry Email
News
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 04:00 AM

College kidsAn average of 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each day. Next in line is the much smaller Generation X, so they can’t possibly fill all of these vacated positions. That leaves the next generation to help fill the gaps: Millennials.

There is no shortage of research, essays, and webinars designed to help you access the [supposed] mysterious world of these young people born between 1980 and 2000. As landscape companies struggle to fill the positions in a growing industry, many business owners are quick to dismiss this generation as “not interested” in labor or non-tech jobs.

But there are characteristics of young people that make them valuable candidates who can become loyal, productive members of your team with the right approach.

Have a mission
One widely discussed characteristic of the Millennial generation is that members are idealistic. They want their work to contribute to a greater cause. If you want to work with young people, you’ll need to show them how their work is important.

Offer opportunities to grow professionally
They also need to feel that there is a career path. They are willing to do the hard labor, but they don’t want to do it forever. Demonstrate that there is room for advancement in the landscape industry. Given the demand for quality landscape work, that shouldn’t be difficult to do.

Give them a reason to stick around
Does this desire for advancement mean that after dedicating time to training and cultivating a skilled landscape professional, you’ll see them leave for a better gig? Not necessarily. If you offer them opportunities to grow within your organization and keep them invested in your business’s goals, you might find that they will stay on board. Despite the rumors that Millennials bounce from job to job looking for opportunity, examples show that they are willing to remain loyal to a company if they feel that they are a valued and vital part of the organization. 

Diversity contributes to a better work environment
It’s widely known that a diverse workforce can increase productivity and provide more creative solutions to workplace challenges. Young people with idealistic enthusiasm want to contribute meaningfully. Given the opportunity to work with seasoned pros, they can add a new dimension to your team.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Are bionic bugs the secret to defeating EAB?
Green roofs growing in Denver
Was Rodin a model of entrepreneurship?
Building a pay grade scale