Randstad: Holiday Hiring Masks Logistics Talent Crisis
Hiring in logistics is experiencing a sharp rebound ahead of Black Friday and Christmas, following a fall earlier this year.
Randstad says the rise in job vacancies both meets holiday demand and masks skills gaps across the sector. As logistics becomes more digital, companies must invest in proper staff training to prevent wider problems.
Holiday logistics
Randstad is one of the world's largest talent companies, providing clients with high-quality, agile and diverse workforces. It specialises in operational, professional, digital and enterprise roles.
As well as helping people find jobs, the company also examines job market data, looking at trends within hiring and job transformation.
Randstad’s latest analysis shows logistics hiring is on the rise in the run-up to the holiday season, with companies anticipating high demand around Black Friday and during the festive period.
Globally, permanent job postings have risen 16% year-on-year, with steady monthly growth of 4-8% over the summer. Permanent postings climbed from 396,000 in June to 461,000 in September, signalling strong demand for workers. In the US, temporary postings for warehouse logistics roles rose by more than 150% over the past two years.
Demand for sustainability-focused talent is also rising, but finding it is proving difficult. Although seasonal hiring peaks during the busiest time of year, persistent demand points to a failure to build a sustainable workforce. About three-quarters (76%) of logistics organisations report year-round talent shortages, with an urgent need to attract and retain long-term workers.
Technological transformation
A significant part of the issue is the failure to properly train staff. While three in five logistics roles will experience transformation as a result of AI and automation, only 28% of workers said they were given access to upskilling opportunities and training.
Companies failing to arm their staff with the skills required to efficiently use AI and other tech are therefore putting their own efficiency at risk.
A shortage of upskilling has left workers behind the industry’s digital transformation, meaning staff are unprepared to meet demand and technology is underused. At the same time, e-commerce is growing fast, increasing the need for large, efficient and smart logistics networks and fulfilment centres year-round, especially during seasonal sales and holiday periods.
"We see a massive wake-up call in logistics," comments Sander van't Noordende, CEO of Randstad. "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 three 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."
Wider gaps
Logistics faces a larger gap in workforce development than in digital transformation. The sector must prioritise recruitment and training, as even the most advanced digital systems still rely on people.
A significant gap can cause long-term supply chain issues and problems with bottlenecks. If warehouses are understaffed or there are too few drivers to deliver parcels, wait times increase and customers are less likely to return.
Almost a third (30%) of workers told Randstad they would leave their current role due to a lack of career advancement, demonstrating a demand for skills investment. Alongside the lack of upskilling opportunities, workers are feeling undervalued in their roles. Randstad's Workmonitor 2025 data revealed that 46% of staff feel underpaid and 49% have left previous jobs due to insufficient pay.
The logistics sector needs more workers, but without clear change and growth opportunities, employers will struggle to fill the gap.
