Workforce sustainability and retention

21.01.2026

Keeping people well, capable, and committed when hiring is harder

With recruitment under pressure, retention is no longer a secondary concern. The Q4 HR Bulletin shows that many manufacturers are being more cautious about hiring, not because demand has disappeared, but because cost and compliance risks have increased. When replacing people becomes harder, keeping the workforce stable, productive, and engaged becomes essential.

This shifts the focus from short-term staffing gaps to longer-term workforce sustainability. Sustainable workforces are not built through pay alone. They rely on wellbeing, clarity, development, and trust.

Retention pressure looks different now

In a tighter labour market, employers could often assume that people would move on quickly if they were unhappy. Today, movement may slow, but dissatisfaction does not disappear.

Employees who feel stretched, overlooked, or uncertain are more likely to disengage quietly. Productivity drops. Absence increases. Skills stagnate. These issues are harder to spot, but they are just as damaging.

At the same time, experienced employees are staying in work for longer, and their knowledge and capability are becoming even more valuable. Retention is no longer just about keeping people, but about supporting them to remain effective and motivated over time.

This matters even more in a climate where recruitment is slowing and replacing people carries greater cost and risk.

Sustainability is about how work feels day to day

A sustainable workforce is one where people can perform well without burning out or becoming disconnected. That depends on:

• Manageable workloads and realistic expectations
   
• Clear roles and priorities
   
• Access to support for health and wellbeing
   
• Opportunities to learn, progress, and share experience
   
• Managers who can spot issues early and respond well

When these foundations are weak, retention suffers even if pay remains competitive.

What employers should do next

• Understand where pressure is building: Look beyond turnover figures. Absence data, engagement feedback, and performance trends often highlight strain before people leave.
   
• Support wellbeing in practical ways: Wellbeing is not about slogans. Occupational health support, sensible adjustments, and proactive conversations help people stay productive and connected.
   
• Plan for knowledge retention: As experienced employees remain in work longer, knowledge transfer matters. Mentoring, coaching, and structured handovers reduce risk and build capability across teams.
   
• Review flexibility and job design: Small changes to working patterns, responsibilities, or role scope can make a big difference to retention, especially for experienced or specialist staff.
   
• Equip managers to lead sustainably: Line managers shape the daily experience of work. Training them to manage workload, performance, and wellbeing supports both retention and productivity.

Retention and wellbeing sit at the heart of the wider Workforce Shift, alongside skills shortages, pay restraint and upcoming policy change.

How Make UK can help

We help manufacturers build workforces that are resilient, productive, and sustainable over the long term. Our support includes:

• Wellbeing and occupational health programmes that keep people fit for work
   
• Retention and engagement strategies based on workforce insight, including employee surveys and leadership visioning workshops
   
• Recruitment training to support employing the right fit first time, improving quality of hire and long-term retention
   
• Succession planning through effective performance management, supporting engagement, development, and future leadership
   
• Organisational design support to review roles, workload, and structure
   
• Benchmarking projects so employers can see how competitive their pay and benefits really are, supporting attraction and retention
   
• Manager training to strengthen people leadership, early intervention, and confident conversations

When recruitment is constrained, sustainability becomes a business priority. Employers who invest in their existing workforce are better placed to maintain performance and adapt to future change.

If you would like support strengthening retention, recruitment quality, and workforce sustainability, get in touch. Email [email protected] or call 0808 168 5874.