How do I capture the Gen-X Professional?

The future of corporate America rests in the hands of the young professionals currently working in top companies and construction employers across the country. A number of myths and stereotypes are associated with these so-called “Gen X-ers,” regarding their construction career goals, expectations, and strategies. But if companies want to attract, retain, and advance this next generation of business construction executives, they need the facts-as well as useful action steps for how to learn from them. A study found that members of this generation are highly committed to their construction employers. In fact, about one-half of respondents reported that they would be happy to stay with their current construction employers for the rest of their construction careers. Despite this loyalty, today’s professionals do expect more from their construction employers. They want programs and policies that help them balance their work and construction personal lives, as well as effective performance management systems to help them navigate their advancement. And when they choose to leave their construction employers, this generation does so for traditional reasons.