The latest salary data for hiring managers in logistics

The logistics sector has always been fundamental to the UK economy. This was arguably never truer than during the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdowns led to reliance on home delivery of essential and non-essential goods alike. 

Since the emergence from lockdown, the industry has remained busy, with huge demand for talent and salaries spiking. In our 2023 Guide to Salaries and Hiring Strategy in Logistics, we provide key industry data for employers looking to hire this year, including salary benchmarks across the country, demand levels, and more. 

Access your 2023 Logistics Salary Guide today

The guide provides detailed salary data for the logistics sector. Read on for some of the other key insights from the guide, including demand levels and in-demand skills. 

How much competition for talent is there in logistics?

Over the last three months, we tracked nearly 18,000 logistics roles advertised by 3,000 companies. During that time, we also received over 5,000 logistics applications from candidates.

Nearly a quarter (22%) of suitable applications were received on the first day of advertising a role, with half (50%) received by day five. On average, 2.2 candidates were interviewed per position. 

So demand is high – but how has this translated to salaries and the cost of recruiting?

How changing salary trends should inform your hiring

Logistics is a lucrative business for those who climb the career ladder, with senior leadership roles commanding salaries well over six figures. Salaries have also risen significantly in recent years, and remuneration packages also depend also on the scale of the logistics operation and its location.

Demand is nationwide, but there is a definite bias towards the capital, with more logistics jobs advertised in London, the South East and the Midlands. All of this means there is substantial variation in salaries, as detailed in our salary guide.

Dean Rose, Director at Michael Page Logistics, commented: "The events of the last few years have really highlighted the importance of the logistics sector, leading to as much as 10-15% wage inflation for roles at all levels."

How strong is demand for logistics talent?

Some of the most in-demand roles in logistics are at the middle management level, including planners, coordinators, managers and supervisors. The ten most in-demand job titles in recent months are:

1. Warehouse Manager
2. Warehouse Supervisor 
3. Transport Planner 
4. Transport Manager 
5. Transport Supervisor 
6. Logistics Manager
7. Operations Manager 
8. General Manager
9. Export Coordinator 
10. Fleet Manager 

With salaries climbing fast at the higher levels of logistics businesses, it’s important to get excellent value from the management and leadership hires you make. 

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In-demand skills

Logistics roles require a lot of transferable skills, from budgeting and people skills to general communication and stakeholder engagement. We're also seeing some emerging technical skills gaining importance, like robotics, automation, and mechatronics.

In-demand skills right now include:

• Leadership and people management 
• Stakeholder engagement 
• Commercial acumen
• Budget management

We also expect growing demand for the following skills in future: 

• Continuous improvement and operational excellence 
• Freight management – import/export/customs experience
• Automation and robotics

Along with new and emerging skillsets, the drive we’re seeing across the industry for more diverse candidates and more inclusive workplaces will continue to reshape the sector. Laura Frost, Senior Business Manager at Michael Page Logistics, commented:

When talking to our clients, they make clear that they're looking for candidates who have clear communication skills, are proactive with overcoming challenges, and can engage with customers and other key stakeholders in the business. The best candidates are also able to inspire and upskill a diverse workforce while developing future leaders.

Rising demand for interim talent

As with many other sectors, we are also seeing increased reliance on interim workers and contractors, as logistics firms try to build their reserve capacity without committing to a substantial permanent workforce in a still-stabilising market.

Interim workers are faster to find, faster to onboard and, when no longer needed, faster to release from their contracts. We found that, across the board, hiring interim workers is much faster than hiring permanent employees:

• Average days to receive a suitable CV: 1 (interim) vs. 4 (perm)
• To first interview: 5 (interim) vs. 10 (perm)
• To agree a placement: 17 (interim) vs. 37 (perm)

Hiring interim workers can also help businesses to get through periods of high demand when suitable permanent employees are hard to find, while continuing with the recruitment process to appoint permanent talent when it becomes available.

Matthew Simpson, Associate Director at Michael Page Logistics, said:

If your business has  immediate staffing needs and you can't find exactly what you're looking for in the perm space, then the interim market is a great option. With demand for top professionals on the rise, this hiring model can offer much quicker talent wins.

Building your employee value proposition (EVP)

The process of promoting your employee value proposition starts from the recruitment phase and can play a significant role in your ability to secure the best talent. In addition to the insights shared in our 2023 Logistics Salary Guide, we commissioned a more detailed survey in early 2023 to discover what logistics professionals are looking for in a potential new employer.

We found that logistics candidates are looking for opportunity, but often not finding it. One in five (20%) logistics respondents said there isn't much opportunity in their logistics job market right now, compared with just one in ten (10%) across all sectors. This highlights the opportunity for employers who are hiring and can capitalise on this to create a sense of opportunity.

What's next?

For detailed salary data and even more in-depth analysis from our experts, download your copy of the Logistics 2023 Guide to Salaries and Hiring Strategy in Logistics.

If you are looking to hire logistics talent or just want to learn more about the current hiring market, get in touch with the team today. 

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