In many developed markets women only make up around 21% of the total logistics workforce. With unemployment within the sector at record lows, what can the logistics sector do more to improve its attractiveness to women? Over 1,100 people participated in Europhia Consulting's online survey on this topic.
Some of the key findings suggest that women globally make up less than 20% of company management positions within the sector. The survey highlights that in the majority of companies, more than 70 % of the workforce are male. The vast majority of participants feel that universities and the industry can do a lot more to encourage women to take up a career within the the logistics sector. However, on a more positive note, participants from both genders highlight that opportunities for women to have a career within the sector have never been better.
The fourth module of Europhia Consulting's online Global Logistics HR Survey Series has received participation from over 1,100 logistics and supply chain professionals worldwide. Two thirds of those are females which demonstrate the enormous interest from women in this topic. 49% of the participants currently work in Europe, 41% work in Asia and 10% in the Americas.
Is the logistics sector still male-dominated?
Various articles published over the last months and years confirm that women are still underrepresented in the logistics and supply chain sector. A study conducted by the European Transport Federation shows that only 20.5% of the employees in the transport sector are women. The industry magazine Logistics Today reports that one challenge for the supply chain profession will be in "bridging the gender gap". As example, they point out that in Canada out of the 2,000 members of The Logistics Institute only 286 are women. A survey conducted by the Ohio State University finds, however, that career opportunities for women in logistics are better today than in the past. Europhia's survey findings are in line with these publications.
Europhia's online survey confirms that in the majority of companies, less than 30% of the workforce are female. There is no significant difference between the key markets globally. Furthermore, the majority of the logistics professionals surveyed say that less than 10% of employees in management positions in their company are women.
According to a global McKinsey survey, companies currently face several key supply chain risks. Among these risks availability, cost, and quality of labour is a major concern in almost every region of the world. The labour markets worldwide have become increasingly tight. At the same time, however, female professionals are still widely underrepresented within the logistics sector. Thus, the industry can do a lot more to better attract, support and retain women within the sector. This point seems key to a successful HR recruitment and retention strategy for companies.
Opportunities for women in logistics
Although the findings outlined above paint a rather negative picture of the situation of women in the industry, logistics professionals are rather positive about recent and expected future developments. Almost three quarters of the logistics and supply chain professionals surveyed feel that opportunities for women for building a sound professional career in logistics are better today than ever.
|
Better opportunities today than ever |
Yes |
No |
Don't know |
|
Overall |
72% |
14% |
14% |
|
Female |
70% |
15% |
15% |
|
Male |
78% |
11% |
10% |
Table 1: Are career opportunities for women in logistics better today than ever?
Moreover, 70% are convinced that career opportunities for women in logistics will further improve over the next years. Across regions, men are more optimistic than women when it comes to the current situation as well as to future developments of women's career opportunities (see tables 1 and 2).
|
Opportunities will further improve in the future |
Yes |
No |
Don't know |
|
Overall |
70% |
11% |
19% |
|
Female |
67% |
11% |
22% |
|
Male |
74% |
13% |
13% |
Table 2: Will career opportunities for women further improve over the next years?
However, almost half of the logistics and supply chain professionals still think that working in logistics is harder for women than for men. In addition, 60% are convinced that women need to show higher performance in order to receive the same amount of appreciation. Interestingly, there is a considerable difference in the way men and women respond. Two thirds of the female participants are convinced that women need to show higher performance whereas only one third of the men surveyed agreed to this (see graph).
Also, 60% of the logistics professionals feel that women are less often considered for management positions than their male counterparts with equivalent qualifications. There are again similar differences between male (40%) and female (69%) participants.
Gender differences in managing supply chains
Another question arising in this context is: are there differences between male and female logistics professionals in the way they manage supply chains? About two thirds of the participants are of the opinion that women have different style to men in the way they manage supply chains.
Out of all the logistics professionals who feel that there are gender differences in managing supply chains, 71% say that these differences are of advantage to the company.
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