New data from Randstad has revealed 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 per cent 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 per cent through the summer. Similarly, in the US for example, job postings for temporary warehouse logistics workers grew by over 150 per cent 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: 3 in 4 logistics organisations (76 per cent) 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.
Compounding systemic scarcity is a significant skills gap – while 60 per cent of logistics roles are expected to change through AI and automation, only 28 per cent 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 growing demand for talent also reflects the continued expansion and complexity of e-commerce, which requires larger, more sophisticated fulfilment networks year-round, not just during peak seasons. Across advanced economies, employers can’t find enough skilled hands. This resurgence underscores a wider revolution of blue collar work outside of seasonal demand.
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 per cent) feel they are paid fairly for the work they do, and almost half (49 per cent) have left previous jobs due to inadequate wages.
While more than half (55 per cent) 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.
“We see a massive wake-up call in logistics,” said Sander van ‘t Noordende, Randstad CEO. “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 3 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.”