The transport and logistics industry could be in for a skills shortage if predictions in a recent report from leading human resources firm Adecco hold true.
Transport industry to grow
The 2014 Adecco Employment and Talent Report which uses data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics as well as their own Client and Candidate Survey and a proprietary internal model, expects the transport and logistics sector to grow 9.2 percent over the next three years.
Job vacancies high
Conversely, casual and temporary staff numbers in the industry have fallen by 5.2 percent on average over the last three years and permanent staff numbers have increased by only 6.3 percent.
With over 5,000 job vacancies already, the report warns there could be a shortage of experienced drivers and notes permanent vacancies in the Sydney region are already increasing.
Over the last three years, wages in the industry increased by 3.5 percent, largely driven by a 5.7 percent increase for casual and temporary employees.
Transport and logistics could face skills shortage
Adecco Australia and New Zealand COO Mike Davies comments that increased consumer and business confidence as well as a number of positive economic factors including lower interest rates should relieve skills shortages in many sectors, however the transport and logistics industry appears to be out of step with these sectors.
“The pressures of skills shortages in many sectors have softened and this has passed the control back to the employer, with the majority of wage increases set to match CPI increases rather than in a desperate bidding war for talent,” he says.
With so many experienced drivers having left the transport industry in the last downturn, it will be interesting to see if the sector can recruit the people required to grow.
Drake Trailers is an Australian manufacturer of widening and fixed width trailers for heavy haulage, mine site equipment transport, steerable modular trailers, telescopic trailers and other special use trailers. We employ a team of 170 highly trained people who customise each trailer to the exact needs of our transport and logistics clients so that each Drake trailer is purpose-built to contribute to the productivity and performance of their operation.