The UK’s logistics industry has ramped up hiring as it looks to support online shopping and grocery delivery during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Totaljobs, there were an average of 5,208 logistics roles advertised per week on the site in March. This is an 8% uplift compared to the average week in January and February (4,685 per week) and 6% up on the average week in March 2019 (4,925).
However, this has been matched by an increase in job searches. 47 applications on average in March 20, vs. an average of 36 usually.
According to LinkedIn data released last week, transportation and logistics roles are up 6.9% year-on-year, while retail jobs are up 2.2%.
A search on LinkedIn for “warehouse worker” roles produces 10,628 results. There are also 2951 vacancies for “warehouse manager” positions, with Aldi, Ocado and Amazon amongst those recruiting.
On TotalJobs.com, the equivalent figures are 5177 and 348 respectively.
Totaljobs CEO, Jon Wilson said: “Recent changes to the way we work have had a monumental impact on employers and employees alike. With the BCC’s Coronavirus Impact Tracker verifying a widespread take up of digital working, at Totaljobs we are also witnessing many businesses altering their typical output, to meet public demand for essential items.
“With estimations that up to a million workers could find themselves displaced by the outbreak of Covid-19, for many, this presents the opportunity to find work within industries such as logistics, IT, social care, farming and agriculture and more.
“In the coming weeks, we expect to see further diversifying of skills and specialities, from both businesses and the people they employ, signalling what was once a hypothetical shake-up of the UK’s employment market.
“While this alleviates short-term pressures and helps business continuity, for employers hiring from different talent pools, the importance of successful onboarding is clear. By ensuring new recruits are properly integrated into ways of working, and arming them with the knowledge, background and training to succeed in the role, businesses can look to overcome longstanding skills shortages after restrictions loosen.”
