Women in logistics: status quo and opportunities
Logistics is a male domain—owing to the physical strength. These kinds of prejudices prevent many women from entering this exciting work area. Defying these stereotypes, the industry wants to attract more female specialists and managers. What do women expect in logistics and what opportunities does diversity bring? A review and outlook based on a study from 2019.
Women are underrepresented in logistics.
It is not a lack of qualifications that is responsible for the shortage of women in logistics. It is rather a matter of corporate culture and role models. This was the conclusion that the Federal Logistics Association (BVL) drew in 2019 as part of a study and took the discussion further at transport logistic in Munich in the session “Male domain? Opportunities for and with women in logistics.” In 2023, experienced women put the topic up for discussion again in the forum “Dear logisticians: we need to talk: What does the logistics sector gain from more female logistics specialists? And what do women gain from becoming logisticians?”
Women are conquering logistics.
Founded in 1978, the BVL has around 10,000 members worldwide from industry, trade, services and science and is considered a platform for the exchange of ideas between managers in logistics and supply chain management. Silke Fischer is the first woman to head the management board. Prof. Michael ten Hompel from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML passes the baton to Prof. Alice Kirchheim. Logistics needs more women who can demonstrate career paths in logistics and be role models for others.
Statistics on the status quo of women
According to data from the Grant Thornton International Business Report, the share of women in management positions in SMEs worldwide has risen from 19.4 percent (2004) to 33.5 percent in ten years. However, at this growth rate, it will take almost three decades before reaching parity.
In 2022, around 46.3 percent of all employees in Europe were women. However, in Europe's management levels, they are still significantly underrepresented with an average of 35 percent.
Germany is in the bottom third with 28.9 percent. Just under one in four board positions in DAX companies is held by a woman.
And last but not least, women and men still receive different pay. The gender pay gap for similar qualifications, jobs and employment histories is still 6 percent.
Focus on women in logistics
1.5 million people work in the transportation and logistics sector (as of June 2023). At 23 percent, only just under one in four positions is filled by a woman. And only ((XX)) percent of the top 100 logistics companies employ women in management.
At 12 percent each, the proportion of women in the rail and road modes of transport lags behind air freight at 21 percent and sea freight at 27 percent. Logistic-related service providers (23 percent), warehousing (30 percent) and CEP services (32 percent) have the highest proportion of women.
As the logistics sector continues to grow, the increasing integration of high-quality logistics services into the value chain of industry and trade in particular offers a wide range of career opportunities for women and men.
Especially cooperation along the logistics chain requires characteristics and skills that are more often attributed to women. Flexibility, service orientation, goal orientation, ability to work in a team, effectiveness, decision-making and conflict resolution skills are ideal qualities for taking on strategic tasks.
According to the Fraunhofer Institute, diversification is one of the eight megatrends that will occupy logistics in the future. Notably, the proportion of women in increasingly heterogeneous workforces continues to rise. This does not necessarily have to be a disadvantage, as numerous studies have shown that diversity has a positive effect on a company's success.
Reasons why few women work in logistics
The public often associates logistics with muscle strength and 24/7 work, which is why it is far behind in women's career aspirations. The BVL study uncovered these and other stereotypes already in 2019. Five years later, logistics is still a male domain. Not many people questioned why so few women occupy management positions, and if so, the reason given was a lack of assertiveness or self-confidence. The top response to the question of what could increase gender diversity was the compatibility of work and family life. Women and men should have the opportunity to adapt their working conditions to their phase of life.
Professions in logistics: a wide range of opportunities for women
Today, strength alone is no longer an explanation for the lack of women. The work environment is even changing in the commercial sector. Digitalization and automation facilitate processes and therefore also activities in logistics. On top of this, the logistics sector has become more open and offers many career opportunities for female specialists and managers.
In spite of all initiatives to promote them, women are still not sufficiently represented in specialist and management positions, although companies demonstrably benefit from this. Women provide new ideas in companies and contribute to the diversity of perspectives. Especially in a world that is becoming ever more complex, global and fast-paced, the ability to work together in collaborations and strategic alliances is becoming increasingly important.
Companies benefit from female skills:
- empathy
- strong communication skills
- openness and willingness to learn.
The share of women in apprenticeships and logistics courses is increasing and the German Academy of Foreign Trade and Transport (DAV) in Bremen is also proud of its strong gender mix. A third of its students are female with a rising trend. When it comes to qualifications for jobs in logistics, women are in no way inferior to men. The more women enter the male domain of logistics, the more attractive the field of work becomes for other women.
Women in logistics: a matter of corporate culture.
Paths into the logistics world are still too hidden. Women who wish to become a logistician are rare. No wonder. There is a lack of role models. Women who are successful in logistics inspire others, according to the principle “If she can see it, she can be it.” Based on this idea, initiatives create awards and networks that make career paths visible. In addition, organizations and companies in the logistics sector are undergoing a number of changes that are making it increasingly attractive for women to join the industry.
Diversity is an ongoing trend in logistics.
It is not least due to demographic change that logistics companies are adapting to the changing working world. A growing number of companies are gearing their business models to the needs of their employees—and not just women. Needed are:
- more flexible working hours,
- (life) working time accounts,
- ergonomic workplaces,
- individual part-time work.
The world of work is becoming increasingly diverse, which is also reflected in job advertisements and career pages.
Support programs & jobs for women in logistics
The industry wants to become more attractive to women. Women are benefiting from a growing number of mentoring programs and networks. Especially in the last few years, several have been added. In addition to cross-industry support programs such as “MentorMe”, women support each other on their career paths. The Vienna-based Damen Logistik Club initiated the “Women Logistics Mentoring” program, which is already in its second round. Larger employers, such as Deutsche Bahn, are also launching initiatives and supporting their female junior staff in terms of leadership. More than 4,200 female Deutsche Bahn employees are organized in the “Women at Deutsche Bahn” network, sharing experiences, exchanging ideas and supporting each other.
Many networks for women in logistics
For more visibility on the management floors of companies and on the stages of the logistics industry, more and more women are organizing themselves in traditional networks.
These networks advocate for topics such as diversity and equality in teams, management levels and research. They broaden perspectives. And above all, they enable both women and men in the industry to meet, network and help each other.
Logistics needs women everywhere.
Logistics is growing and so are the tasks. In March 2024, with 57,000 vacancies, the logistics and transport sector took first place among the vacancies registered with the Federal Employment Agency. Furthermore, new and exciting fields of activity are constantly developing in transport and logistics companies as well as in the specialist departments of trade and industry. Hence, the industry needs skilled specialists and managers, not only in commercial and industrial positions along the logistics chains, but also as IT professionals and as representatives in science, society and politics.
transport logistic is an excellent opportunity for both specialists and graduates to get to know companies as potential employers and to discover job profiles, career paths and new chances.
Task of the logistics companies: support women actively & over the long term
Actively promote women in the long term, even if they take frequent breaks for family reasons. Enable career advancement and inspire men and women for a diverse working environment. These are the tasks of the logistics companies. To this end, companies must show how diverse their workforce is and how attractive they are as an employer. Changing mindsets is a task, because corporate culture does not change on its own. And it is worthwhile. Employing qualified women is not a problem, but an opportunity.