The continued growth of e-commerce has given a strong impetus to the logistics sector in recent years. This sector has as a result become an important generator of employment in the UK,[CM1]  as indicated by the consultancy firm Proequity, which specialises in real estate operations in the industrial and logistics area (immologistics).

The logistics and transport sector has continued to grow in the third quarter of this year, and Proequity predicts that this trend will continue. The latest Labour Force Survey, compiled by the INE (National Statistics Institute), gives a total of 1.186 million employed, which is 1.93% more than the previous quarter and reveals an annual growth of 8.68%.

More qualified profiles
The consultancy also refers to a Randstad Research report that states that the logistics sector employs 827,000 workers, a figure that exceeds pre-pandemic levels. 52% of employment is in freight transport, 35% in warehousing and related transport activities, and 13% in postal and courier activities.

Among these profiles, there has also been a growing demand for more qualified professionals to respond to the new needs generated by the advancement of new technologies and e-commerce.

Geographical distribution
The greatest differences are found in the geographical distribution of employment. More than half of the workers in the logistics sector are concentrated in Madrid, Catalonia, and Andalusia, according to the Randstad Research study. Catalonia, in particular, leads in freight transport with 16% of the total, Madrid accounts for 27% in storage and Andalusia is ahead in postal and courier activities, with 17%.

The boost of e-commerce in the sector's employment has been especially important in the last quarter of the year, with dates such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For Proequity, “e-commerce represents a cornerstone for the continued growth of logistics and its employability”.

Proequity CEO David Martinez explained, “Recent data indicate that the sector has not only withstood the economic challenges, but has exceeded expectations. The logistics sector continues to advance and e-commerce has been a key factor in sustaining its growth. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday season provides a strong boost each year and we expect business to remain strong going into 2024”.

^{Photo: Proequity}