Internal Mobility: Unlocking Career Growth
Internal Mobility: The Key to Unlocking Career Growth Within Your Organization
In today's dynamic workplace, organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of internal mobility as a strategy for talent retention and development. According to Deloitte, organizations with strong internal mobility retain employees nearly twice as long as companies without them—7.4 years versus 4.1 years. But what exactly is internal mobility, and why should both employers and employees care about it? Let's dive deep into this crucial aspect of modern workforce management.
What is Internal Mobility? A Comprehensive Definition
Internal mobility refers to the movement of employees within an organization, whether it's vertical (promotions), horizontal (lateral moves), or cross-functional transitions to further their career and gain new experiences. Internal mobility can involve changing roles, departments, or even geographic locations within the same company. Internal Mobility is also sometimes called "talent mobility" or "career mobility.
Unlike external hiring, internal mobility focuses on leveraging and developing existing talent within your organization.
LinkedIn's 2023 Workplace Learning Report revealed a powerful statistic: 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development through internal mobility opportunities. This underscores the significant impact that internal mobility can have on employee retention and engagement. By providing opportunities for employees to grow within the organization, companies can foster a sense of loyalty and commitment, reducing turnover and associated costs.
Moreover, internal mobility can enhance employee satisfaction and motivation. When employees feel valued and have clear pathways for advancement, they are more likely to be productive, innovative, and engaged in their work. This can lead to increased job performance, improved decision-making, and higher levels of creativity.
The Benefits of Internal Mobility: By the Numbers
For Employees:
Career Development: 73% of employees who moved internally stayed with their company three years later, compared to 56% of those who didn't move (Josh Bersin Research)
Skill Enhancement: Internal mobility participants acquire new skills 4x faster than their peers (Gartner)
Job Security: Companies with strong internal mobility see 41% longer employee tenure (LinkedIn)
Network Building: Employees in internal mobility report 30% higher engagement scores (Deloitte)
Company Knowledge: Internal hires typically reach full productivity 50% faster than external hires (SHRM)
For Employers:
Reduced Hiring Costs: Internal hires cost approximately 60% less than external hires (Wharton School of Business)
Improved Retention: Organizations with strong internal mobility see an 18% improvement in employee retention (Mercer)
Knowledge Retention: Companies save $7,500 on average per internal hire in training and onboarding costs (LinkedIn)
Enhanced Culture: Organizations with internal mobility programs see 41% longer employee tenure (LinkedIn)
Accelerated Time-to-Productivity: Internal hires reach full productivity in 3 months versus 6 months for external hires (SHRM)
How to Get Started with Internal Mobility
1. Comprehensive Skills Assessment:
Identify Core Competencies: Determine the critical skills and knowledge required for various roles within the organization.
Skill Gap Analysis: Assess the current skill levels of employees to identify areas for improvement.
Career Pathing: Create career path opportunities and development plans for employees, outlining the necessary skills and experiences to progress.
2. Robust Internal Mobility Policy:
Eligibility Criteria: Define clear eligibility criteria for internal moves, such as tenure, performance, and skill level.
Process and Timeline: Establish a streamlined process for internal job postings, applications, and selections.
Managerial Support: Encourage managers to support employee development and internal mobility initiatives.
3. Enabling Technology Solutions:
Talent Systems: Utilize modern, flexible and approachable technology to enable your employees to visualize their skills, career aspirations, skills gaps and skills concentrations.
Learning Management Systems (LMS): Provide access to a variety of training courses and development programs.
4. Effective Communication and Branding:
Internal Branding: Promote the benefits of internal mobility through internal communications channels.
Employee Engagement: Create a culture that encourages open communication, feedback, and career development discussions.
Success Stories: Share stories of employees who have successfully moved within the organization.
5. Comprehensive Learning and Training and Development:
Skill-Based Training: Offer training to enhance employees' technical, soft skills and skills they need.
Mentorship and Coaching: Provide opportunities for employees to learn from experienced mentors and coaches.
Leadership Development: Invest in leadership development to prepare employees for team leadership and management roles.
6. Data-Driven Decision Making:
Track Key Metrics: Monitor metrics such as time-to-fill, employee satisfaction, and promotion rates.
Analyze Data: Use data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Continuous Improvement: Refine the internal mobility program based on data-driven insights.
By following these steps and leveraging technology, organizations can create a culture of growth and development, leading to a more engaged, skilled, and adaptable workforce.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenges:
Manager resistance to losing team members (cited by 69% of HR leaders)
Limited visibility of opportunities (affects 45% of employees)
Skill gaps for desired roles (reported by 57% of organizations)
Inconsistent processes (impacts 38% of internal mobility programs)
Solutions:
Implement manager incentives for supporting mobility
Create transparent communication channels
Provide learning and development resources
Standardize mobility procedures
The Future of Internal Mobility
According to McKinsey, by 2030, 60% of today's jobs will be radically transformed by technology. This underscores the importance of internal mobility in developing adaptable workforces. Organizations with internal mobility programs are projected to fill 35% more critical roles internally by 2025 (Gartner).
Getting Started: Your Next Steps
Ready to transform your organization's approach to internal mobility? Visual Workforce offers comprehensive solutions to help you build and manage effective internal mobility programs.
Create a dynamic internal mobility for your talent
Match employees with opportunities based on skills
Support career development initiatives
Talk to our experts and learn how visual workforce can help you.
Conclusion
Internal mobility is more than just a workplace trend—it's a strategic approach to talent management that benefits both employees and employers. The statistics speak for themselves: organizations with robust internal mobility see significant improvements in retention, cost savings, and employee satisfaction. By investing in internal mobility, organizations can build a more engaged, skilled, and adaptable workforce while reducing costs and improving retention.
Take the first step toward transforming your organization's approach to career development. Learn how our solutions can help you build a more dynamic and engaged workforce through effective internal mobility and skills intelligence.
