For organizations struggling to retain talent, here’s a harsh truth: nearly half of your departing employees say they left due to a lack of advancement opportunities. And only one in five employees feels confident about making an internal move.
That’s according to LinkedIn’s 2024 Workforce Report and McLean & Company’s multi-year Exit Survey (2021–2024), which together paint a bleak picture of internal mobility—or the lack thereof. Employees are eager to grow, but most don’t see a clear path forward inside their companies.
Enter McLean & Company’s new Integrated Career Pathing Framework—a practical, research-driven blueprint that helps HR leaders close the growing gap between employee ambition and organizational structure.
Internal Mobility: The Silent Retention Crisis
The link between career development and engagement is well established. But while most organizations acknowledge its importance, many are missing the mark when it comes to execution. According to McLean & Company’s research, career pathing efforts frequently stall due to:
-
Limited resourcing
-
Poor leadership alignment
-
Disconnected HR systems (e.g., L&D, performance, rewards)
The result? Disengagement, missed opportunities, and avoidable turnover—especially among high-potential talent.
“Employees are telling us they want to grow—but they don’t see a path forward,” said Lexi Hambides, Director of HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. “When frameworks are unclear or non-existent, people disengage, and companies lose critical talent.”
A Clearer Path to Career Growth
McLean & Company’s newly released framework aims to change that. It’s built to help organizations create transparent, scalable, and adaptable career development structures that align employee growth with business goals.
Here’s what it offers:
-
Defined role levels and progression criteria to eliminate ambiguity
-
Mapped mobility pathways across functions and seniority levels
-
Integration with existing HR systems (like L&D, total rewards, and performance)
-
Manager enablement tools to support ongoing career conversations
In short, it’s a full-stack approach to career development—one that equips employees with a line of sight into growth opportunities and equips managers with the language and tools to guide them.
Engagement, Up-Skilled
Here’s the data that underpins the urgency: employees who feel they have adequate opportunities to learn new skills are 1.6 times more likely to be engaged, according to McLean & Company’s Exit Survey.
That stat alone should move career pathing to the top of any HR leader’s priority list.
What Makes This Framework Different
Unlike generic competency matrices or flavor-of-the-month engagement programs, McLean’s model is grounded in evidence, informed by real workforce data, and designed for operational reality. At the core are four key drivers:
-
Role clarity and leveling
-
Defined mobility criteria
-
Connection to HR programs and systems
-
Manager enablement and continuous career dialogue
It’s not about checking a box—it’s about building internal mobility into the DNA of your workforce strategy.
On-Demand Learning for HR Teams
To help HR pros apply the framework effectively, McLean & Company also offers an on-demand course via the McLean Academy. The Career Pathing course includes:
-
A Career Path Planning Workbook
-
A Guide for Creating Inclusive Promotion Processes
-
A Goal Management Toolkit to strengthen manager-employee development conversations
The demand for career development isn’t a trend—it’s a shift in employee expectations. With economic uncertainty pressuring budgets and recruiting pipelines running thin, building talent from within is no longer optional.
McLean & Company’s framework gives HR leaders the tools to retain, develop, and engage employees in ways that are actionable and measurable. And in a labor market that’s tilting toward transparency and purpose, that’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic imperative.
Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights.
