A huge shortage of young people in logistics is looming. At least, if the media are to be believed. About two years ago, the industry sounded the alarm. 50,000 jobs would become vacant in logistics in the coming years, while the influx of young people remains limited.
According to Steven Gudde, director of Innovation and Development at Olympia, that shortage of young talent may not be as great as you would think based on all the noises. "The remarkable thing is that scarcity is experienced, because people cry out that there is scarcity. But is that scarcity really there?", Gudde wonders. "Companies are looking for young talent, looking at work experience and education." According to Gudde, companies should actually abandon those two components. "If they would look at behaviour, skills and competences of young people, the pond they fish in suddenly becomes a lot bigger. Someone does not necessarily need to have a logistics background to be successful in this industry. If you have experience with staff scheduling or planning holidays, the skills are there. Why couldn't such a person work in logistics?"
Not sexy
The HR strategist does believe that logistics is not very sexy for young people. "This is partly because the sector does not make itself very sexy. When people talk about logistics, it is often limited to transport from A to B. It is logical that everyone then thinks of trucks." "Logistics is much more high tech than people think. But very much introverted when it comes to sharing all this innovative technology. The sector communicates very much in 'look at what we all do', rather than 'this is what you can do with us'. There are definitely gains to be made there."
Steven Gudde will give a seminar on attracting young talent in logistics on Friday 13 November. Wondering if what your company promotes suits young people? Or as Steven Gudde nicely puts it: is what you think is sexy what young people find sexy? You can register for Steven Gudde's seminar here.
