Fostering retention among project managers through career sustainability

Abstract

Considering the high turnover rates in project management due to limited development opportunities, this paper examines the role played by career sustainability in addressing this organizational challenge. Career sustainability is defined as the opportunity and capability of individuals to remain in productive and meaningful work overtime, across the lifespan and in changing career contexts. Drawing on sustainable career theory, a conceptual model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with data from 224 project managers. The model incorporates four dimensions of career sustainability – resourcefulness, renewability, flexibility, and integrativeness – as predictors of career satisfaction, well-being, and both organisational and career turnover intentions. Results indicate that resourcefulness and renewability are the strongest predictors of positive outcomes. Socio-demographic analyses suggest that resourcefulness plays a greater role in reducing career turnover among senior professionals, while renewability more strongly enhances well-being for participants without children. These findings provide empirical evidence on the relevance of career sustainability in project-based contexts and offer practical insights for organisations aiming to retain and support their project management workforce.