As businesses continue to navigate the unprecedented demand for skilled professionals in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for adept individuals to fill key roles has become more critical. This surge in demand has given rise to a burgeoning market for recruitment agencies specialising in the freight and logistics domain. So says Steff Boyd, a recruitment specialist and the managing director of Switch Recruit, a newly launched agency based in Johannesburg.Boyd says agency staff have a great understanding of how the industry works and aim to connect qualified professionals with the changing needs of logistics companies. The agency is strategically set up to help in this way, not just in South Africa, but across the African continent as well.Boyd explains: “Our goal is to make hiring in the logistics sector straightforward, timely and effective. We are not just focusing on South Africa; we’re committed to providing solutions that resonate across the continent. By understanding the specific needs of both professionals and companies, we aim to create meaningful connections that drive success in the logistics industry.”According to Boyd, the sector is starting to stabilise following the upheaval caused by the pandemic, specifically on the staffing front. “ We a re optimistic about the outlook for 2024 as numerous companies are experiencing relief from financial difficulties that persisted through challenging years during and after the pandemic. We believe that we have surpassed the most difficult phase of companies implementing catch-up recruitment strategies for recovery, and there is now a semblance of normality returning to the market.”Many companies, says Boyd, are shifting back to growth strategies and expanding their presence, especially on the continent. “In this context, a recruitment agency can play a pivotal role in facilitating companies’ resurgence by efficiently identifying and securing the right talent, ensuring that businesses can execute their growth strategies swiftly and effectively in the recovering market.”Asked about market trends, Boyd says the sector is still contending with a skills deficit, and a high demand remains for well-qualified individuals. “Candidates appear to have the upper hand when it comes to opportunities. We observe many highly qualified employees navigating the market with frequent job changes, engaging in negotiations for exceptionally high remuneration packages.”The logistics sector has also experienced the effects of the brain drain, she adds, especially with managers and salespeople choosing to leave the country in recent years, resulting in a noticeable gap in the market.“There is a noticeable gap between available positions and the pool of candidates to fill them. Synchronisation between job openings and qualified candidates is not prevalent at the moment,” says Boyd.Furthermore, an ongoing trend has been the increasing preference among employees for a hybrid work environment, whereby they can work from home and the office.
