Logistics UK’s response to ONS unemployment figures

In response to today’s (17 August 2021) publication of the latest unemployment figures by ONS, Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at Logistics UK said:

"While today's ONS announcement has positive news for the economy as a whole, logistics businesses are still struggling to recruit the skilled workers they need to fill vacancies around the country. To protect the integrity of the nation's interconnected supply chain, we need government to provide a short term flexible solution on immigration to help manage the current shortages while new recruits are trained to enter the sector, as well as maintaining the current high rate of commercial driver testing to clear the backlog of those waiting to become professional drivers, and extend the £3,000 apprenticeship bonus to encourage more people to take up places on the scheme."

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.  With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.