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Plugging the skills gap
The skills shortage within the UK is an ongoing issue for the logistics industry, and without the government’s full commitment and support to mitigate it, will continue to be a concern for the sector.
As previously reported in Logistics Magazine, Logistics UK co-signed a letter before Christmas – together with UKWA, BIFA, Chemical Business Association, Cold Chain Federation and RTITB – addressed to the Minister for Immigration, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, highlighting the industry’s critical labour shortage ahead of the upcoming Shortage Occupation List (SOL) review.
BREXIT AND PANDEMIC EXACERBATING SHORTAGES
This letter highlights the issues faced by the logistics industry as a result of COVID-19 and the UK’s exit from the EU – during which thousands of logistics workers returned to their home nations on a permanent basis – and calls for government support in seeking both short- to medium-term, and longer-term solutions.
Alexandra Herdman, Senior Policy Manager, Logistics UK, said: “At Logistics UK, we agree that sectors and businesses must work towards reducing their reliance on migration to fill the skills gap, but presently the shortages are so high that we need a stop gap while we attract, retain and train from the domestic workforce.
SHORTFALLS IN SKILLS REMAIN STUBBORNLY HIGH
Currently, the number of HGV drivers in employment remains stubbornly at 2019 levels when there was an estimated chronic shortfall of 60,000 drivers. There has also been a significant fall in the number of vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians in employment from 209,000 in Q3 2019 to 146,000 in Q3 2022. As a result, the UK logistics industry is working tirelessly to recruit and train a homegrown workforce through tools such as HGV Skills Bootcamps and apprenticeships. Generation Logistics, which launched in August 2022 – with backing from the government, logistics businesses and trade associations – is a ground-breaking campaign aimed at tackling industry’s long-term recruitment issues and bringing together the sector to help solve its skills and labour shortages.
Alexandra Herdman said: “Government must recognise, however, that despite extensive efforts and collaboration, our industry, which is one of the fastest growing in the UK’s economy, needs a short to medium-term labour boost to manage immediate and growing consumer demand.”
TEMPORARY VISAS MEASURE TOO SHORT TERM
The temporary visa measures which were made available to food supply chain workers over Christmas 2021, and were implemented by previous minister Tom Pursglove, concluded that the number of applicants who applied was not significant.
“This was not because the demand was not there,” Herdman argued, “it was because the duration of the visa being offered to potential migrant workers was so short (a matter of weeks by the time the initiative was launched) that it was not feasible for them to disrupt and uproot their lives. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)’s annual review of 2021 concurs with our view that short-term measures such as temporary visas are not a suitable solution to skills shortages.”
DRIVERS ARE SKILLED WORKERS, LOGISTICS UK ARGUES
Logistics UK is urging government to add forklift drivers, HGV drivers – of which there is an estimated shortage of 60,000 – and warehouse operatives to the Skilled Worker Visa and subsequently the SOL, as well as ensuring mechanics remain on the list.
“Mechanics play a key role in industry and any impact on their availability would be detrimental to the sector,” she said, “While it is encouraging that logistics and warehouse managers are eligible to apply for the skilled worker visa, the SOL currently fails to fill the roles industry most desperately needs.”
SKILLED LOGISTICS WORKFORCE VITAL FOR UK ECONOMY
Logistics is widely accepted to be the backbone of the UK economy, accounting for 8.5% of all non-financial UK employment and contributing a significant £139 billion Gross Value Added (GVA).
“To ensure trade continues to flow, a skilled workforce is vital,” Alexandra Herdman said, “Government support is a key enabler of this, and Logistics UK is eagerly awaiting the publication of the call for evidence into the review of the SOL in 2023, and working with industry to further address the skills shortage.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/skills
Published On: 26/01/2023 16:00:24
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