Craft beer industry employee retention is likely higher than service industry overall

By now, most people are familiar with the Great Resignation, with more than 47.8 million workers quitting their jobs in 2021 and 44% of workers are still seeking a new job. The idea that the grass is greener at another company whether in the form of increased pay, work flexibility, or other benefits prompted Americans to seek new opportunities more than ever before.

What does all of this mean for the craft beer industry?

In a recent study completed by Craft Beer Professionals and Craft Beer Advisory Services, industry workers were asked about their desire to continue learning at their brewery. Based on their sample, approximately 4 of 5 craft beer industry workers overall agreed or strongly agreed that they’d like to continue learning and growing at their brewery.

While the service industry as a whole may be struggling to retain talent, it appears that craft brewery employees have a desire to stay.

When segmenting this particular statement by tenure, the data suggests that newer employees are most likely to be excited about their career growth in the industry. An overwhelming 63 percent of employees with one year or less in tenure at their brewery strongly agree they’d like to continue learning and growing at their brewery.

As workers gain more years of experience, the likelihood they remain in the “strongly agree” category decreases:

• 1-3 years tenure: 53% strongly agree
• 4-6 years tenure: 46% strongly agree
• 7+ years tenure: 31% strongly agree

What does all of this mean?

Brewery owners and managers should continue to ask employees what would make them interested in continuing with their brewery. Meaningful professional development, raises, or increased job responsibilities can increase employee engagement.

While the “strongly agree” category decreases as tenure grows, this should not be overshadowed by the sample’s overall result: 4 of 5 industry employees want to continue learning and growing at their current brewery.

This suggests that while the service industry may be struggling overall, people still relish the opportunity to join a craft brewery in whichever capacity they can.

The big question is “how can we keep the excitement over time?” The answer lies in successfully creating an organizational culture your team is invested in and continually providing your staff opportunities to grow. Burnout is real, and both owners and team members can become complacent. Getting ahead of these feelings, and offering solutions, is necessary to maintain the “strongly agree” momentum seen in year 1.

Build a culture of continuous improvement based on a shared vision of achieving your brewery’s goals.

• Do you have a mission statement?
• Does your staff understand what is expected of them?
• Do you understand their expectations and goals for the future?
• How often are you holding meetings?
• Team-building activities?

There isn’t a light switch that’s going to turn on to increase happiness. It requires constant attention and dedication. Make it your goal to provide an experience that results in long-term commitment.