Sector boom needs 700 new jobs
The survey of 51 logistics and distribution businesses showed there are at least 570 fulltime employees over 55 years old in the sector.
At least 700 new jobs will be needed in the next five years as logistics and distribution turn into an economic powerhouse for Manawatu.
The sector is expected to overtake education as the Manawatuwhanganui region’s secondlargest industry after healthcare by 2021, according to the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), but that will cause a labour crunch.
CEDA chief executive Linda Stewart said a report for the agency showed quick action was needed to ensure the sector continued to grow.
Industry, education institutes and development agencies had to work together to find new staff and develop the right skills, she said.
While most owners and managers surveyed were confident they could attract enough skilled staff, CEDA found pressure was mounting as it became more difficult to replace retiring staff.
The survey of 51 logistics and distribution businesses showed there are at least 570 fulltime employees over 55 years old in the sector, highlighting challenges the industry faces in recruiting young people to replace them.
These include a widespread feeling among young people that the pay isn’t very good and career opportunities are limited, and training and licensing being too expensive.
Wholesale food distributor Bidfoods’ assistant general manager Adam Rapson said pay rates were actually similar to most industries, and his own career was evidence there was room to advance.
He left school nine years ago, one term into year 13, with few qualifications and no clue what he was going to do.
‘‘I kind of fell on my feet here with a fulltime job. I thought if I’m doing something, I should do it well.’’
He worked his way up from the warehouse into management.
Companies often trained and paid licensing costs for someone with that same attitude, he said.
Josh Alexander is one of two Palmerston North Boys’ High School work experience pupils Rapson has been showing the ropes this term.
Alexander, a year 13 pupil, used to think there wasn’t much more to the industry than truck drivers, but now he could see a possible career.
‘‘There’s just so many different roles. I thought [Bidfoods] would be a couple of managers and drivers, but it’s huge.’’
The two youths shadowed the department managers in their first week, and were out packing crates in the warehouse the second week. They will put in time at every role at Bidfoods during the rest of the term, from the logistics planners and dispatchers to vehicle mechanics.
CEDA and Talent Central have created an industry working party to help with recruitment.
And Immigration NZ relationship manager Philip Hastings said CEDA’S survey had helped shore up discussions of a combined approach with the industry to target skilled migrants for recruitment to Manawatu.