Employees and employers are mostly singing from the same song sheet with regard to plugging the skills gaps, attracting new industry talent and training, according to the FTW Career in Freight survey (see pages 10 and 11). Both agreed that the industry needed to attract more talent, that there were training gaps and skills development gaps and that the jobs in freight needed to be viewed more as ‘careers in freight’ and stigmas about a lack of professionalism in the sector needed to be addressed. Employers cited jobhopping before gaining proper experience, mismatches between education and skills, not having enough resources to train, poor mentoring and older generations leaving the industry as some of the main reasons for the skills gaps. Other reasons included the fact that training was too broad based and didn’t allow for specialisation and that freight training companies offered poor standards of training. Job-seekers/employees said it was difficult to enter the market, noting that employers were simply not willing to give those with no experience and/or formal training a chance. They said there were not enough learnership or internship opportunities. “Prospective employers are also increasingly demanding a formal tertiary education as a prerequisite for employment,” one candidate said in the survey, adding that a formal, globally recognised qualification was preferable as it was accepted more broadly and not simply within the current job situation. Others noted that, once they were appointed, employers did not expose them to ongoing training or mentoring and that career advancement opportunities were limited. This, along with challenges such as long, irregular hours; high pressures and difficulties with third-party operators such as government and Customs, were cited as major turn-offs to working in freight. Suggestions as to how to attract newcomers to the industry included guaranteeing promotions and a clear career path for candidates who complete a formal tertiary qualification or receive a Fiata (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) diploma. Introducing shipping as a high school subject, establishing a regulation body for all logistics players and organising career guidance road shows were some of the other suggestions.
