Retaining Talent- Why Career Paths & Progress Tracking Matter
High turnover is a costly, common challenge in the beauty and wellness industry — but it’s not just about pay or schedule. More often, it’s about clarity, purpose, and progress.
When team members can see a future for themselves in your salon — and how to get there — they’re much more likely to stay.
The Real Cost of Turnover in the Beauty Industry
Industry turnover rates range from 30–45% annually
86% of employees say lack of career advancement is a key reason for leaving
Training new team members can cost 50–200% of their salary
Burnout, poor culture, and unclear growth paths fuel early exits
This is a cycle that drains your energy, finances, and team morale. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
It Starts with Hiring the Right People
Before you can retain great team members — whether in a salon, barbershop, or any trade-based business — you have to hire for purpose, not just position.
That’s why I created the Purpose Over Position Hiring Framework — a free tool that helps owners across trades:
Filter for cultural alignment
Ask deeper, more meaningful interview questions
Observe skills and mindset early in the process
Build purpose-driven teams that grow with your company
Why Career Paths Are Non-Negotiable
Once the right person is hired, the next question is: how do they grow here?
Most beauty professionals are never shown a path beyond “just doing hair.” They don’t see the opportunity to:
Mentor others
Lead classes or in-house education
Manage the salon or open their own salon one day
Move from apprentice to senior to master stylist with defined milestones
When no one shows them the way, they look for it elsewhere.
Visualizing Growth Changes Everything
Progress-tracking tools like bring structure to skill-building, not just in beauty, but across all trades. Whether you’re mentoring an apprentice plumber or onboarding a new esthetician, giving people a way to see their growth is a game-changer.
The ROI Applies Everywhere
This isn’t just a beauty industry issue. Skilled trades of all kinds face:
High turnover
Training gaps
Culture breakdowns
Lack of defined career paths
From barbershops to welding shops, what team members want is the same:
A future
A roadmap
A reason to stay
Final Thought
Retention starts at hiring — and deepens with purpose.
When we create clear career paths and show people where they’re going (and how far they’ve come), we turn jobs into journeys. Whether in beauty, HVAC, construction, or plumbing, this approach works.
Let’s stop hiring out of desperation and start leading with vision.
Want the Purpose Over Position Hiring Framework?
Email me and I’ll send it your way — free, and useful in any trade.
Until Next Time~
J.Branch
Business Architect/Founder of Failing Forward & Purposed For A Purpose