London, UK: A joint industry plea has been made to government to address short to medium term, and longer-term solutions to the skills shortage facing the logistics industry.
The Cold Chain Federation, Logistics UK, UK Warehousing Association, British International Freight Association, Chemical Business Association, and RTITB have sent a joint letter to the minister for immigration, Robert Jenrick MP, highlighting the industry’s critical labour shortage ahead of the upcoming Shortage Occupation List review.
The letter highlights the issues faced by the logistics industry as a result of Covid-19 and the UK’s exit from the EU – during which thousands of logistics workers returned to their home nations on a permanent basis – and calls for government support in seeking both short to medium term, and longer-term solutions.
Alexandra Herdman, senior policy manager, Logistics UK, said: “Logistics UK is urging government to add forklift drivers, HGV drivers – of which there is an estimated shortage of 60,000 drivers – and warehouse operatives to the Shortage Occupation List in relation to the Skilled Worker Visa, as well as ensuring mechanics remain on the list.
“Industry is working hard to seek longer-terms solutions to the sector-wide shortages and recruit home-grown talent with successful initiatives such as Generation Logistics. However, the correct training takes time, and as one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK’s economy, a short to medium-term labour boost is essential,” she said.
“With Covid-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc,” she said.
Clare Bottle, chief executive, UKWA, says, “It is important that the industry speaks with one voice on this vital issue. The Migration Advisory Committee annual review of 2021 concurs with our shared view that temporary measures such as short term visas are not a suitable solution to skills shortages, so we have requested a meeting with the minister to discuss how we can work collectively to ensure logistics businesses are able to meet demand for services in the short to medium-term, while assuring the government of our absolute commitment to a longer term solution that is not reliant on migration.”
The Shortage Occupation List is set out in the Appendix Shortage Occupation List of the UK Immigration Rules. It details the roles that the UK government considers to be in short supply within the country’s resident labour market, with such roles afforded more relaxed eligibility criteria for sponsored work visa applications.
In August 2022, the Migration Advisory Committee, which typically recommends to government which occupations should be included, was asked to review the Shortage Occupation List for sponsoring skilled workers. It is anticipated that the committee will report back by the end of March 2023, with a view to the implementation of any change in the autumn of the same year.
