Logistics in Limburg suffers from labour market tightness, ageing and urbanisation To strengthen the region's logistics labour market, companies, educational institutions and governments are joining forces.
According to the initiators of the e-Fulfilment Hub project, economic growth and the rise of e-commerce are creating boom times in the logistics sector. The growth of the logistics sector really also has a downside: it is difficult to find good quality staff. Rabobank and temporary employment agency Tempo-Team previously indicated a growing shortage of good drivers, loaders, unloaders, forklift and reach truckers and logistics managers.
In Central Limburg, companies would suffer from this even more than in the rest of the Netherlands. The region is considered a logistics hotspot, as goods can be delivered quickly from Central Limburg to consumers across Europe. However, the region is struggling with an increasing ageing population: in Central Limburg, 22 per cent of residents are 65 or older. Every year, a large number of young people move away to the big cities. Logistics also suffers from labour outflow to other sectors.
Eleven Central Limburg organisations want to make logistics in Central Limburg 'sexy' again. They have united within the e-Fulfilment Hub. One of the goals of this hub is to create a future-proof logistics labour market. Project participants Fontys Hogeschool Venlo and Centrum voor Logistiek Vakmanschap will work closely with the participating companies to ensure a higher and better throughput of students so that the region continues to have access to sufficient qualified workers. Entrepreneurs, for their part, will work on giving the logistics sector a more 'sexy' image: focus on employer branding, better fringe benefits and creating more career opportunities. The parties will also focus on international labour migration, flexible workers and the recruitment of Euroregional staff. "Close ties between educators, entrepreneurs and regional authorities are essential to reach and retain logistics talents for Central Limburg," the parties conclude in a press release.
Editorial logisticsProfs
