Why the Logistics Industry Offers a Great Career Path Today, Despite Current Challenges
By Rena Mundy, Human Resources Manager
Technical Transportation, Inc
The supply chain and logistics industries require in-person, non-virtual people to get the job done. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic almost three years ago, however, finding people to fill needed positions has been very challenging for most logistics companies.
Since the original shutdowns that stopped almost everything, followed by the Great Resignation, the U.S. supply chain has been in a state of constant disrepair that has been driven largely by labor shortages.
Earlier this year the U.S. Labor Department reported that there were 5.5 million more job openings than there were workers available to fill them. A recent Washington Post report also noted that a scarcity of skilled supply chain workers in the U.S. is still a big problem. On the positive side, the Labor Department reported in November that the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector had the third-most new hires compared to other industries for the month.
Despite recent struggles, the supply chain management and logistics industry continues to evolve and is becoming a field that can offer high-growth job opportunities for people of any age, background, education level or skillset.
Data Opening New Doors
One area where logistics is growing is data analysis and quality assurance. Logistics companies are turning more to people holding advanced degrees in supply chain management to fill those positions.
Virginia Goss, an operations specialist at TechTrans and a recent MBA graduate from the University of North Texas, says that as logistics companies are using the data inherent in their businesses to make better decisions and improve customer experiences, they’re also creating new positions to analyze and interpret that data.
“While many supply chain companies need people to fill positions in the warehousing and delivery side of things, there is also a growing need for people to analyze the business – operations, quality assurance, etc.,” says Goss. “Having in-house consultants is a big thing right now. Even manufacturers, who traditionally wouldn’t employ supply chain analysts are looking at adding those positions now.”
Moving Forward
Looking ahead, the supply chain and logistics industry will continue to play the vital, if not underappreciated, role of keeping the economy moving, literally.
Over the next five to ten years, we expect that job opportunities in the U.S. logistics industry will continue to grow and perhaps diversify as they bring some capabilities back stateside. This comes in the wake of post-COVID supply chain disruptions and the need for companies to mitigate broad-ranging disruptions in the future.
In addition, new technologies like automation will continue to mature and open new job opportunities as the industry strives to become more efficient and effective in the years to come.
If you’d like to learn more about growing your career in the supply chain and logistics industry, contact us today.
