19% of employees in logistics are women: Do we need more?

The fact is that there aren’t nearly enough women working in logistics today. Women represent a sizable hidden resource in the logistics industry’s overall talent pool, and with practically every industry engaged in a talent battle, firm executives need to look more deliberately to make sure they are utilizing all competent individuals.

Source: www.canva.com

The efficient flow of commodities, services, and information is essential in today’s interconnected global economy. The logistics sector is the foundation of contemporary commerce, supporting everything from manufacturing and transportation to supply chain management and distribution. In 2021, the logistics industry worldwide was worth over 8.4 trillion euros. That represents 10.7 % of the global Gross Domestic Product. In 2027, it is expected to be 63%.

Historically, women have had a difficult time breaking into and progressing within this industry, which has been predominantly male. However, the tides are turning as more and more capable and tenacious women are making their mark in logistics, rewriting industry conventions, and motivating a new generation of leaders. A couple of examples include, Hannah Kain, who is the founder of ALOM – a supply chain management company, and Judy R. McReynolds, who is CEO of the logistics company ArcBest.

Why does logistics need more women?

Even while men remain making up the vast majority of supply chain professionals, the number of women in this field is continuously increasing. According to a study from 2022, about 39% of all workers in the supply chain sector were women. In comparison with 2016, this number increased by 5%. In the transport and logistics industry, only 19% of employees are women.

In addition, this sector still struggles to see a comparable number of women progressing up to the higher ranks, despite the gender gap’s size being smaller over time. According to the same study, just 21% of vice president and senior director positions in the logistics sector were held by women. This is only a 1% difference in comparison with 2016.

The study also looked for a reason why all of the women don’t stay in the logistics industry and leave their jobs. Surprisingly, more than half of the women that were surveyed responded that the main reason is the lack of career advancement opportunities. If you would like to learn more about the issue of too few women in logistics, read our article.

What are the advantages of gender diversity in logistics?

There are many advantages of gender diversity, but we chose the most important ones to list.

• A Variety of different perspectives: Diversity at work guarantees a range of unique viewpoints. Women and men see the world differently, and thanks to that, they are more likely to have a wide range of talents, experiences, and opinions.
• Faster problem-solving: Greater workplace diversity helps businesses solve issues more quickly. According to the Harvard Business Review, varied teams are able to solve issues more quickly. Why? Because men and women have different brain chemistry. It gives them distinct perspectives and experiences, which enables them to offer a variety of solutions.
• Increased creativity: Exposure to such diversity increases creativity in addition to providing a variety of viewpoints from individuals with various experiences. Men are more oriented towards performance, while women are more towards feelings and senses. Together they can come up with unexpected solutions.
• Increased profits: Money is key for every business. Businesses that have a more diverse workforce make more money. A multinational management consulting company, McKinsey & Company, carried out research involving 180 businesses in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They discovered that businesses with more diversified top teams had higher financial performance.

Source: www.canva.com

Considering a career in logistics?

There is a sizable potential pool of female workers who can support logistics effectively. To eliminate any hidden biases that might be impeding women from entering the profession and climbing the corporate ladder, hiring practices and recruitment efforts across the business are being regularly reviewed. In addition, a lot of businesses are looking into new initiatives to assist women in overcoming the mid-career hurdle, like prejudice or pausing their careers because of maternity leave, which has caused so many of them to quit their positions. There are also many online mentoring programs and supportive communities.

If you do not like an office or warehouse job, we have a solution for you. You can travel and be paid for that. Many women are working as truck drivers all around the globe. Read our tips for female drivers to keep up with a male-dominated world.

The industry is changing for the better thanks to the advancement of women in logistics. Women are breaking down obstacles and changing the landscape through mentoring programs, gender diversity initiatives, and supportive communities. For example:

• Women in Transport, which offers mentoring programs by women for women or
• I Will Mentorship Foundation, which connects communities who can collaborate and learn from each other.

Their varied viewpoints encourage innovation, advance problem-solving, and strengthen judgment – in technological advancements, sustainable practices, or process optimization. Additionally, empowering women increases market reach, attracts top talent, and improves customer connections.

To develop inclusive environments and fair chances, there are still obstacles to overcome, thus sustained effort is needed. The logistics sector can flourish on the talents of all its players by fostering talent and promoting gender equality. Together, we can create a world in which women in logistics continue to innovate, inspire, and lead a more diverse and thriving sector.