If you’re on the look-out for a new job opportunity, the logistics industry could offer more than you realise. Here’s some popular myths about the logistics industry, busted!
“Wages are really poor….”
Many jobs do have low entry wages but there is usually potential for earnings to rise significantly. The average wage for a warehouse operative and van driver is over £17,000 and the average for postal workers is in excess of £20,000. (Source Annual Hours Survey 2009).
“It’s a dead-end industry…”
Most employers are upskilling their workforce. 62% of logistics employers provided training in the previous 12 months, covering 42% of the total workforce.
Rich potential for career progression because
- Almost one in five of all staff are managers.
- Over 40% of the workforce is aged 40+ (leading to numerous retirements).
- 170,000 managerial vacancies in logistics predicted by 2017.
- The sector is anticipated to grow by 7% each year from 2011.
“Only men do that…”
Most of the workforce are men. But there are around 400,000 women in logistics, spread right across the industry.
“Hours are too long”
Some, but not all, roles require shift work including evenings, nights and weekends. There are a wide range of working hours and patterns across the industry with over 300,000 staff working part time.
“It’s a dirty industry”
Some jobs are dirty but the majority are clean. Uniformed drivers are commonplace e.g. Wincanton and Eddie Stobart. Image is everything in modern business. Vehicles are expected to be washed regularly and drivers expected to wear a uniform.