As traditional warehousing and haulage roles become more complex, logistics companies need to wake up and upskill their workers, a new report from global HR company Randstad warns.
Its research shows that while 60% of logistics roles are expected to change through AI and automation, only 28% of talent report access to training and upskilling opportunities.
As a result, upskilling hasn’t caught up with the digital transformation, leaving many workers feeling unprepared for the demands of changing modern logistics technology, the report claims.
The growing demand for talent also reflects the continued expansion and complexity of e-commerce, which requires larger, more sophisticated fulfillment networks year-round, not just during peak seasons, the report says.
It warns that across advanced economies, employers can’t find enough skilled hands. This resurgence underscores a wider revolution of blue collar work outside of seasonal demand.
“The pace of digital transformation and automation is quicker than the sector’s workforce development. This is critical to address as our research reveals significant changes across roles in the sector,” the report notes.
It points to the role of a warehouse operator as an example, arguing that this is rapidly shifting from manual picking and packing to supervising complex robotic systems, requiring new skills in data interpretation and exception management.
Similarly, the truck driver is moving away from basic navigation to overseeing semi-autonomous convoys and working with AI-optimized routes, underscoring the shift toward a more digital operational future, the report explains.
The research also found that talented staff are calling for greater opportunities to develop and progress, with nearly a third (30%) saying they would leave their current role due to a lack of career advancement. This signals a clear demand for structured pathways and skills investment, it concludes.
At the same time, the skills challenge is compounded by workers feeling undervalued, despite growing demand for talent in this sector.
According to Randstad’s Workmonitor 2025 data, pay and flexibility in terms of working hours are the biggest motivator for talent in logistics, yet fewer than half (46%) feel they are paid fairly for the work they do, and almost half (49%) have left previous jobs due to inadequate wages.
While more than half (55%) of logistics professionals entered the sector because of job availability, this data shows workers now expect more than just employment.They’re looking for fair pay, flexibility and clear career progression opportunities - areas where employers have a major opportunity to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
Sander van ‘t Noordende, Randstad chief executive, commented: “We see a massive wake-up call in logistics. This isn’t just about finding more drivers or pickers for the holidays; it’s about structural changes.
“The worker who used to lift boxes now has to run more complex systems. We’re telling workers their job is going digital, but then they’re offered limited access to training - less than three in 10 get it.
It’s time for employers to play catch up and invest in the huge potential of blue collar talent. We can no longer run a 21st-century supply chain with a 20th-century mindset.”
The report also found that logistics hiring has rebounded sharply following a slowdown earlier this year, as companies gear up for Black Friday and the festive season.
Worldwide, permanent job postings have risen 16% year-on-year, from a low of 396,000 in June to 461,000 by September, recording steady month-on-month growth of 4–8% through the summer.
Similarly, in the US for example, job postings for temporary warehouse logistics workers grew by over 150% over the last two years. This sustained surge suggests that the challenge of finding talent has increased.
However, this hiring rebound masks a systemic talent crisis: three in four logistics organizations (76%) report facing acute talent shortages that go beyond the holiday season.
There’s an urgency to attract and retain workers to address long-term talent scarcity, as well as meet demand ahead of the busiest period of the year, the report warns.
