After an eventful 2021, our warehouse staffing solutions experts are excited to turn their gaze to the next year. Will it be another disruptive year? What industry changes in 2021 are expected to continue to reverberate in 2022?
It’s a big call, making predictions for the coming year. But we’ve done it. Our team here at Action Logistix has been busy researching warehousing industry trends in terms of working and workforce management. This way, you have an idea of what to expect and can plan accordingly.
Before we dive in, we should mention that we don’t have some crystal ball giving us a glimpse into the future. Rather, our predictions listed here are based on historical data, current trends, and future forecasts from relevant sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Global Trade Magazine. Let’s get to it.
For most industries, the 2021 job market was characterized by labor shortages and hiring difficulties.
Back in 2020, the COVID pandemic forced production to a halt. More than that, it reminded people of the importance of a good work-life balance. So when customer demand picked up much quicker than expected in 2021, employers had to contend with increased competition for workers as fewer employees trickled back into the workforce.
Combine that with the fact that many of the people who were regulars at the warehouse are getting older and remote working is becoming the norm — warehouse staffing, especially for frontline workers, might be more challenging in the coming year.
In 2022, employers need to look into adopting innovative warehouse staffing solutions, such as hiring contingent workers and flexible work schedules, if they are to keep their facilities at full capacity. By contingent workers, we mean non-permanent employees — independent contractors, freelancers, etc.
In recent years, this type of employment has grown in popularity. However, with the pandemic, it became the only way for most people to still have a job. Now that these people have tasted the benefits of contingent work, it will be hard to convince them to switch back to full-time, permanent work.
Admittedly, it can be challenging to staff a warehouse with temporary workers, so employers need to be flexible with their hiring policies. It’s better to have contingent workers manning the assembly line than having no workers at all. Employers can also enjoy an array of benefits from this type of employment, including reduced tax obligations and worker comp costs, higher cost efficiency, and faster hiring processes.
Today’s potential workers are savvier than ever. They can easily access information about a business and see if it’s a good fit for them. In other words, your business needs to position itself as the kind of company that people actually want to work for. Will candidates like what they find when they research your company?
Having a bad employer brand in 2022 will severely impact your ability to hire and retain workers. If your warehouse has a poor reputation, now’s the time to address the issues and hopefully, wipe the slate clean.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment rates in the warehousing sector will grow by around 7% in this decade compared to the previous decade. While this is good news for employers in this industry, it’s important to exercise caution, as the employment market currently favors workers.
Having a reliable warehouse staffing expert at your side can help you navigate these challenges. What makes Action Logistix stand out is the higher caliber of candidates for distribution or fulfillment warehouses.
We employ a comprehensive 3-point employee verification system for pre-qualifying warehousing candidates. This eliminates about 25-30% of applicants, leaving us with a higher chance of recruiting high-quality employees. From production and assembly to packing and forklift workers, we make it easy to staff your facility.
The explosion of remote working opportunities, coupled with low unemployment levels from all the recent stimulus packages will force employers to be creative when it comes to hiring and retaining staff. Action Logistix can take care of all these hassles on behalf of your business. Instead of worrying about where your next employee will come from, we’ll just send you pre-qualified candidates as needed.
Call us now at 314-757-0904 to schedule a quick consultation about your warehouse staffing needs. You can also send us a message through our contact form, or via email at josh.browell@actionlogistix.com.
