Warehouse workforce thought to be greater than official figures

Analysis by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) has estimated that the UK warehouse workforce is about 760,000 strong, 70% more than the official total from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) of 440,000.

The reason for this difference is due to how warehouse work is classified. The ONS figures do not include those working in warehouses in retail, manufacturing industries and other businesses not technically classified as warehouse operators. For instance, retail companies employ about 80,000 workers in their warehouses but are not included in the ONS data.

E-commerce is responsible for some of the growth in warehouse jobs, but other factors, including the rise in the number of third-party logistics organisations, have also contributed to the growth in warehouse job opportunities.

The UKWA Director of Policy and Communications, Edwin Morgan, commented:

“We knew that warehousing had a vital role in the logistics sector, but this new analysis shows just how important it is.”

He said that most warehouses use warehouse management software and other digitised tools; this and the move to use AI have changed the skill sets required from the warehouse workforce. There is an increasing desire to recruit workers with AI skills, but this is difficult as many with AI knowledge are not seen as not naturally attracted to warehouse work. He says that there needs to be a change in perception away from seeing warehouse jobs as cold and dirty manual labour.

The prospects for every British warehouse equipment supplier are positive if the warehouse sector continues to expand.

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