Freight and logistics industry is facing a worker shortage. Photo: 123RF
The freight and logistics industry is facing a work force crisis with a new report estimating it could be 18,000 workers short over the next six years.
The report for the Manufacturing Engineering and logistics Workforce development council shows the industry has been haemorrhaging staff to offshore employers over the last two years.
The survey shows 23 percent of those who have left the sector have gone overseas.
The sector's 15 to 24 age cohort declined by 22 percent between 2020 and 2022, while the Covid-19 pandemic encouraged others to retire early.
"Look it's a real challenge and it's been a challenge for some time" - Kris Webster
Sorted Logistics director Kris Webster said it had been a challenge for the industry for some time and his firm which operates out of Christchurch and Auckland could employ another 30 people tomorrow.
"So let's say we've got 300 staff nationally, we run a casual pool of around 40 staff and we'd have any day between 20 and 30 temporary staff as well and we could easily take on another 30 today."
For his firm the biggest need was for store people, but with a low unemployment level it was difficult finding and attracting people, he said.
The target age group for store people positions was 17- to 23-year-olds, he said.
The starting salary for those positions was above minimum wage starting at about $25-$27 an hour and once trained it could be possible to get $33 per hour, he said.
They were trying to target school leavers as well as students with the possibility of flexible hours, he said.
His firm operated a training programme and clear pay scales, including a cultural communication programme, he said.