Pursuing a career in logistics and supply chain management may be the most rewarding decision you ever make. It’s an industry that operates, for the most part, behind the scenes. It employs 683,300 professionals in Australia alone, providing the efficient and effective transportation and storage of goods to customers across the globe. The industry is also incredibly high-tech – focused on innovation, engineering, robotics, analytics, problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Without logistics, many other fields wouldn’t operate.
Specialising as a logistics professional can make you a key player in an increasingly important field. It can provide you with a job that challenges and interests you, pays well, lets you travel to different places, and provides many opportunities to advance your career.
In this article, we explore five key reasons to study logistics and how to get started in the industry.
As the global economy expands, logistics is becoming one of the nation’s most important industries. Australia’s freight and logistics industry accounts for 8.6% of GDP, adding approximately $133.6 billion to our economy. It is currently estimated to employ 732,500 people. This is no surprise given our proximity to China, the world’s largest manufacturing country. Australians play a major role in transporting goods to their destination efficiently and affordably and our country is at the forefront of planning and actioning freight globally.
Additionally, in the world of real estate, many sought-after properties are warehouses, distribution centres and sites suitable for storing freight. In terms of industrial leases, transport, postal and warehousing overwhelm the category at 40% of ‘big box’ industry leases in 2021. These figures indicate a constant growth in demand for industrial floor space.
Furthermore, logistics is expected to grow by another 6.1% by 2026, creating a positive outlook for those working within the industry or planning a career in supply chain management and logistics.
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Logistics professionals are never bored or limited. The dynamic challenge of getting the right product to the right place at the right time and for the right price presents a varied and fulfilling career path. You can work for a large-scale logistics firm or a local small business. You can travel around the world, Australia, a metropolitan area or your local suburbs.
There are also a range of mid to upper-level positions, including operations managers, logistics analysts and purchasing agents. Other entry-level positions include:
A great benefit to a career in the logistics industry is that you are not restricted to one area. Australia connects to other regions, both locally and internationally. Depending on the type of job you want, you can work close to home, visit other states and territories, or travel to exciting areas of growth, such as China, South America, Russia and Asia.
This is great news for those who love travel or believe that variety is the spice of life! But it just as easily suits those who wish to work locally and explore undiscovered pockets within their neighbourhood.
Average earnings in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry are $1,355 per week, which is higher than the all industries average of $1,250.
Supply, distribution and procurement managers, for example, make up 35% of the entire Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry and earn an average salary of $2,698 per week (or $140,296 per annum) – 54% above the all industries average.
In logistics, you really can have a job that pays – financially, personally and professionally. It’s well-deserved too. It takes a unique combination of skills to succeed in supply chain management and not everyone can think on their feet and time manage a process.
Regardless of your career path, it’s important to consider how your industry will provide opportunities for professional and personal development. Luckily, advancement prospects are readily available in logistics. Companies often prefer to invest in their employees and train from the ground up, rather than hiring externally. This means that the most innovative and hard-working employees are rewarded for their efforts and advance to roles with higher responsibilies, salaries and strategic inputs.
There are also many transferable skills and opportunities for professionals wanting to advance laterally across industries. Analysts, salespeople, project managers, admins, and anyone proficient at complex problem solving and scheduling are needed by the industy and easily transferred from another business.
For those looking to pursue a career in logistics, the time is now. This is the kind of industry that offers professionals a range of employment types at all education levels. Although some are lucky enough to gain high paying work without higher education, a Diploma of Logistics (TLI50221) can fast-track your career within the industry.
Aspiring logistics professionals are advised to pursue further study, familiarising them with regulations and laws and ensuring they are consistently delivering the highest standard.
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