Women In Logistics
The extant connotation of logistics and global trade is well understood in the year 2023. It is those that lead this industry to succeed in the triumph of distance and nature itself that receive dismal attention compared to the notion of the industry. Amongst these workers are few but powerful women. These employees, persevered out-dated stereotypes, and have overgrown boundaries while curating further success upon the centuries old logistics industry.
Specific to the United Kingdom is an added value of £139 Billion derived through the domestic logistics industry. Though this contribution only accounts for an approximate 5% of total GDP within the UK economy the implicit role upheld exploits wealth within other industries. The role is described as an enablement of product provision for the receiving party of the supply chain, this promotes the recognition that logistics is the backbone of global trade – while the people behind the industry are the sophisticated and wildly invaluable nerves within said backbone.
The approximate two million employees within the logistics industry all individually contribute to the feats of international transportation. Of the two million, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills estimates that 20%, 400,000 employees are female with that amount split in half when speaking about management positions, 10%, 200,000. The 19th century old industry stems from a non-minority dominated past with this disregard still taking place within the 21st century workforce. Increasing the difficulty for eager women to partake in lead roles within the logistics industry. The past decade is driven by societal motivation to overturn historic dismissal of minorities in the workplace, a narrative of due diligence for those not affected – with these efforts being showcased highly within the logistics industry.
In the spotlight is WiL (Women in Logistics) and WiLAT (Women in Logistics and Transport) a global forum envisioning improvement to the lives of women in the logistics and transportation industry; the forum originates from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). The group now stretches across 38 countries and devotes efforts to essentially improving the comfortability of logistic industry positions for women.
Powerful women have paved the way for aspiring agents within the logistics industry. It is their succession and others like them that has led to the accessibility women now have within all sectors of employment. The fight for women rights in the workforce shines brightly within the logistics industry, while there are still locations in the shadows, future generations of women fueled by the past triumphs and confrontations of their pre-successors will continue to strive, lead and succeed within industry positions.