News

Aussie logistics sector demanding SAP knowledge, leveraging brand

According to Hays’ latest Quarterly Report, covering April to June 2017, a continued availability of operational logistics roles continues to show that the manufacturing sector has improved – though these jobs include warehouse and transport roles rather than supply chain roles.
With organisations continuing to outsource logistics, the Report found that vacancy activity in 3PL companies remains strong.
Large logistics businesses are keeping salaries steady; instead leveraging their brand and the opportunity to join their team attract candidates.
While employers in the industry were found to be looking for candidates with relevant systems knowledge, SAP was found to be one of the most in demand systems.
Tertiary education, found to be in high demand in the previous Quarterly Report, is still highly valued by employers.
“The trend to employ tertiary educated candidates continues,” Hays said in a statement. “These candidates are viewed favourably by employers for white-collar roles managing teams – they’re perceived to be more adaptable to changing market conditions and more aware of new and ever-changing technology. They are preferred to those with a blue-collar background who have worked their way up.”
The demand for supply chain/inventory managers remains high for candidates with tertiary qualifications and FMCG experience, the company noted, adding that import roles remain a focus, but export roles have increased in response to Australia’s weak dollar.
Inventory controllers with operational experience and relevant licences, such as a forklift licence, are required too, as organisations are attempting to streamline processes and some are therefore combining warehouse supervisor and inventory roles.
The FMCG industry is in need of supply chain coordinators, the Report also found. “The planning area in FMCG organisations is always buoyant, however demand planner salaries have increased to an extent that employers prefer to recruit a coordinator to support the planning function,” the statement said.
Production managers are another ongoing area of demand. “We’ve seen a slight increase in the number of businesses of various sizes looking to employ tertiary qualified professionals at management level,” the company said. “Applicants with exposure to FMCG are in shorter supply than they once were.”

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend