How to navigate the workforce cliff
Construction is facing a major workforce shift. Nearly half of the industry is nearing retirement—and when they go, they take more than a title with them. They take context, decisions, processes, and years of project memory.
In our latest webinar, we tackled the challenge head-on:
How do you retain project knowledge when your most experienced people leave?
We were joined by industry veteran Jim Norcom, who’s spent decades managing capital projects, mentoring teams, and navigating the very real risks of knowledge loss.
Key Takeaways
1. Your “Project Sage” Can’t Be Your System
Every team has one—the person who “just knows” how things work. But if all your knowledge lives in their head, your organization is one retirement away from major disruption.
“We had a guy who knew where all the bones were buried. When he left, there was a void—and it cost time and money.”
— Jim Norcom, Construction Management Leader
2. Two-Year Tenure Is the New Norm
Construction managers switch jobs frequently. Over half stay less than two years. That makes structured onboarding, documented workflows, and a centralized system non-negotiable.
“Turnover is baked into how construction works. Projects are short-term by nature. But the knowledge can’t be.”
— Mike Schwinn, Director of Client Relations at Projectmates
3. A PMIS Isn’t Just for Construction Teams
The right system doesn’t just manage your punch list or schedule—it preserves institutional memory. From onboarding docs to email threads to decision logs, having it all in one place means new team members don’t start from scratch.
4. Scattered Systems = Scattered Thinking
If your knowledge lives in spreadsheets, shared drives, inboxes, and paper binders, you’re not just at risk—you’re already behind. Projectmates customers are centralizing everything from SOPs to FF&E specs inside their PMIS to protect against turnover.
“The moment someone walks out the door, your risk multiplies. If you don’t have a single source of truth, good luck figuring out where the project left off.”
— Mike Schwinn, Director of Client Relations at Projectmates
How do I avoid project Knowledge Loss?
You’ll hear firsthand stories, practical strategies, and a no-fluff look at what really happens when knowledge walks out the door. Whether you’re trying to protect your capital program from turnover or build a stronger onboarding process, this one’s worth your time.
Watch the full replay now in our Learning Center.
Got questions? Reach out and we’ll connect you with someone who’s lived it.
