7 reasons why now is the right time to be working in logistics

Until recently, very few civilians had much idea about what ‘logistics’ meant – something military, perhaps? Or something to do with drivers and shelf-stackers? At any rate, not an obvious career recommendation for your sons and daughters.

And yet, logistics in the UK contributes £80 billion to the economy and employs around 2.5 million.

While many of these are truck drivers or warehouse operatives, there are some 85,000 individuals at the manager/director level and nearly 500,000 or 22% of the logistics workforce are classified as ‘high skilled’.

Furthermore, despite or indeed because of the multiple challenges that the national and global economies are facing, the industry’s need for high-potential managerial and technical staff can only increase.

So, in this blog, we’ll quickly look at logistics before diving into the seven reasons why you, or someone you know, should be considering logistics as a long-term career choice!

What is logistics?

Logistics is a part of supply chain management that deals with the process of planning, implementing, and managing the efficient flow and storage of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Logistics involves a wide range of activities and functions that are essential for organisations to ensure the smooth and cost-effective movement of goods and services throughout the supply chain.

Why you should be looking at logistics jobs

Whether you aspire to be part of the logistics team or aim for the title of supply chain manager, these are the reasons to get into the logistics industry:

1. A continually evolving landscape of fresh challenges

Organisations increasingly understand that logistics plays a central role in enabling them to meet challenges ranging from Brexit through the pandemic to the war in Ukraine. But even without these ‘black swan’ events, logistics skills are vital as firms adapt to e-commerce and home delivery trends.

2. At the forefront of technology

Will drones deliver goods in future? What are the prospects for moving goods in fully autonomous vehicles in the factory or on the open road? Can new approaches to containerisation and materials handling transform economics and efficiency in the supply chain?

It isn’t just hardware – logistics and supply chain operations are developing many of the most promising use cases for innovations from Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Blockchain and Distributed Ledger. The whole sector is ripe for digitalisation, requiring high-level skills not just in hardware, software and business management but people skills as well.

3. It’s a people thing

Whatever the technical advances, logistics will always depend on human labour, albeit increasingly ‘co-working’ with automation.

As populations age, people consider this labour a scarce resource that requires management. Equally, with the rise of e-commerce, logistics is increasingly the point of contact between the business and its customers. Logistics and supply chain recruiters value people and ‘soft’ skills at least on par with technical knowledge.

4. Ease of entry

With a diverse basket of skills requirements, logistics is not a profession that insists on a 2:1 in a narrowly specified discipline. It is also a profession that allows and encourages progression from the ‘shop floor’ into senior management. There is an increasing range of apprenticeships, courses and professional qualification routes to support this.

5. Transferable skills

From the outside, industries such as automotive, fashion, groceries, and pharmaceuticals look very different. Still, similar skill sets can be used to resolve their unique challenges – for example, how to manage Just-In-Time supply and what to do when it looks like breaking down. The responses may differ, but the analysis and insight required are common across the board, making supply chain workers in demand across industries.

6. Saving the planet

It’s known that freight transport, along with other environmental impacts such as noise and congestion, is a major generator of greenhouse gases. But the logistics industry is actively mitigating these challenges: technology, IT, and new business models are combining to reduce wasteful empty and part-load running; warehouses are increasingly energy-efficient and resource-light;

The industry is developing new fuels and energy sources. Logistics professionals are also increasingly sensitive to the social effects of international supply chains – how, for example, different business models affect employment and opportunity. The ESG agenda is, to a significant extent, a logistics agenda.

7. Status and reward

Good news – people’s eyes no longer glaze over at parties when someone says they are a logistics manager! With e-commerce and home delivery, everyone is keenly interested in just how their parcels arrive – and of course, the remarkable performances of many supply chains during the pandemic and its aftermath have raised the profile of logistics no end.

More fundamentally, there can be few organisations now that fail to recognise that logistics and supply chain management, even if outsourced operationally, is a core competence that directly impacts the bottom line, customer satisfaction, and regulatory and ESG compliance.

The logistics career ladder knows no limits – boardroom representation is now the norm, evident through in the salaries on offer at all levels.

We all now recognise that logistics and supply chains are central to everyone’s lives. The careers offered are challenging but fast-moving, diverse, increasingly well-valued and rewarded, and a lot of fun!

Want to join our supply chain professionals?

Whether you want to move into inventory management or want to be one of the top supply chain managers in the industry, there is a job for you in logistics operations. This exciting, diverse and mobile career choice is a fantastic opportunity for analytical thinkers with a passion for problem-solving.

As a potential entrant, or as an employer, to learn more about our support for logistics careers, including apprenticeships and other training options, fill in our form and our experts will get in touch with you.