The covid-19 pandemic directly affected labor demand in the logistics sector. In just one year, he had a drop of 21.3%.
But during 2021, there was a resounding reactivation in the sector. According to a study by the consulting firm Advice, the number of job opportunities grew by 60.4% compared to 2020 (26.4% compared to 2019). The number of job opportunities in logistics was 2,618.
Currently, of the total labor demand that exists in the Uruguayan market the logistics sector represents 6.4%. And the job opportunities that are advertised are for hold positions throughout the supply chain: “It not only encompasses job opportunities directly linked to large operators, but also those offered by small and medium-sized companies,” explains the consultant’s report.
Skills to perform the duties
In the labor demand of the logistics sector the operational profile predominates. But in the labor demand of Uruguay, there is evidence of growth in medium/high qualification positions and the logistics sector is no stranger to these market trends. About three thousand job opportunities announced in the logistics sector during the last three years —almost half; 47%—, included an express mention of some valued ability to perform the position.
The knowledge most valued by companies in the logistics sector is soft skills (soft skills, in Spanish). The concept refers to personal and interpersonal skills and appears in job advertisements more often than hard skills —such as the use of computer tools and English—, and even more frequently than the academic training.
When it comes to hard skills, the fundamental computer programs to work in the logistics sector —in all kinds of positions— They are Excel and SAP. “More than five out of ten job advertisements that require computer skills specifically require Excel. In a more general way, Office management is required,” the report details.
And English is the language most demanded by companies in the field. 11% of job opportunities expressly indicate it as a requirement, and this condition is increasing at a rate of two percentage points per year. Intermediate level is required in six out of ten cases, and advanced level is required in three out of ten cases.
Among the job opportunities that mention some requirement of academic studies to hold the position, two out of three require a university level. This includes advanced students and graduates of undergraduate, postgraduate and master’s degrees. The most demanded university courses are Engineering, Economic Sciences and Foreign Trade.
The increased requirements for workers in terms of training is a transformation that challenges the skills gap and underlines the importance of the link between the labor market and the educational ecosystem, according to Advice. Though in operating positions —representing the 74% of the positions in the category—, university education is not established as a relevant requirement. In this case, the most requested educational level is secondary and UTU.
The human resources consultant Adecco found that within the logistics area, best paying jobs are those of foreign trade manager with salaries between $4,300 and $6,000Operations manager with assets between US$7,000 and US$11,000, while the Supply Chain manager perceives between US$9,000 and US$11,000.
According to Advice, wages on a nominal basis in the sector —without considering extra items— range from $32,612 up to $333,593. The salary range of a Logistics manager or Warehouse manager varies between $203,380 and $333,593, and they are the ones who access the best payment. On the contrary, the tasks with less land are those of logistics operator and warehouse assistant, which range from $32,617 up to $49,100.
