Supply Squeeze
Expect More Shipping Chaos as Omicron Forces Transport Workers to Quit
- About 20% of professional truck driving jobs globally unfilled
- Seafarers also reluctant to come back after 2021 experience
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From seafarers refusing to get back on ships to truck drivers whose concern over Covid-related border closures trumps the lure of higher pay, the transport industry is bracing for another roller coaster year of supply-chain disruptions.
As omicron infections surge and governments tighten restrictions, logistics companies around the world, from global giants to small businesses, can’t find enough staff. According to the International Road Transport Union, around one-fifth of all professional truck driving jobs are unfilled, despite many employers offering increased wages. Some pockets of shipping are also sounding the warning bell about future hiring prospects.