The Future of Women in Logistics

The logistics industry is a traditionally male-dominated field, but rising numbers of women are making their presence felt within the realm of supply chain management each year.

Women in logistics make invaluable contributions to the industry with unique perspectives, creativity and innovative solutions, paving the way for female workers of the future. Though the gender gap is slowly closing, many challenges remain for women seeking opportunities for career advancement within the industry.

How Large is the Logistics Gender Gap?

The number of women in supply chain management careers grows steadily each year, though men still make up the vast majority. According to Gartner’s 2022 Women in Supply Chain survey, women make up just 39% of the industry’s total workforce. Additionally, despite the size of this gender gap shrinking over the years the industry still struggles to see a proportionate number of women moving up the corporate ladder.

We recently asked First Call’s Principal Business Architect Tiffany Soots to weigh in on the matter of women’s roles in the supply chain.

The same Gartner survey reported only 21% of vice president and senior director positions in logistics were occupied by women — a lower figure than in 2021. This lack of representation indicates a growing trend of losing female employees at mid-career points. When asked why they decided to leave their company, more than half of the surveyed women cited a lack of opportunities for career advancement and development.

The inability to retain women through their mid-career point is a huge area of concern for employers, who risk losing the valuable experience of these seasoned employees as well as input and perspectives they might’ve provided to boards and director-level management positions — had they stayed.

While there are some positive signs indicating the logistics gender gap is narrowing, much work remains to be done to ensure women receive equal opportunities to enter and advance within the industry.

Women Can Help Solve New Supply Chain Challenges

We asked some of our own FCL team members to highlight the skills they feel are most crucial to achieving success in supply chain roles:

Considering a Career in Logistics?

Female workers represent a large pool of potential capable of driving efficient supply chain management. As such, industry-wide hiring processes and recruitment efforts are being continuously evaluated to remove hidden biases that may be preventing women from entering the workforce and moving up the corporate ladder. Additionally, many companies are looking into new programs to help women get past the mid-career roadblock causing so many to leave their jobs.
If you’re considering entering the field of logistics, here’s some advice from women who know the industry best:

The future of women in logistics is bright! Make your mark on the global supply chain by talking to a First Call expert today about our current career opportunities.