The storage and warehousing industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; wholesaling; road haulage; freight forwarding; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
Warehouses operate by storing all sorts of products and then dispatching them to where they are needed. A variety of goods are stored in warehouses, including: chemicals; electrical goods; textiles; and foodstuffs. To manage goods safely warehouses may need to be kept at, for example, a certain temperature or have refrigerated areas to keep food frozen.
Key facts:
- A total of 190,600 people are employed in storage and warehousing in the UK, which is estimated to be 11% of the logistics sector workforce.
- There are 5,600 storage and warehousing workplaces in the UK.
- In England, the storage and warehousing industry employs a greater proportion of younger people than in any other part of the logistics sector.
- 41% of the workforce is under 35 years old.
- Self-employment in this industry is limited.
Jobs in the industry range from: warehouse assistant, warehouse manager, storekeeping, stores administration, forklift truck driver, warehouse team leader, order picker, stock controller.
National and regional data
East Midlands – Of the 156,600 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 29,800 work in storage and warehousing. This equates to 19% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.
East of England – Of the 186,700 employees working in logistics in the East of England, 14,800 work in storage and warehousing. This equates to 8% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – Of the 178,800 employees working in logistics businesses in London, 11,800 work in storage and warehousing. This equates to 7% of the logistics workforce in the city.
North East – Of the 55,000 employees working in logistics in the North East, 4,100 work in storage and warehousing. This equates to 7% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – Of the 193,400 employees working in logistics in the North East, 25,100 are employed in storage and warehousing roles. This equates to 13% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South East – Of the 256,300 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 22,500 are employed in storage and warehousing roles. This equates to 9% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South West – Of the 135,100 employees working in logistics in the South West, 12,400 work in storage and warehousing. This accounts for 9% of the logistics workforce in the region.
West Midlands – Of the 187,500 employees working in logistics in the West Midlands, 29,300 are employed in storage and warehousing. This accounts for 16% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – Of the 158,100 employees working in logistics in the region, 23,700 people are employed in storage and warehousing. This accounts for 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Northern Ireland – There is an estimated 80 workplaces involved in storage and warehousing.
Scotland – There is an estimated 7,600 employees in the industry, accounting for 7% of the logistics sector, in around 400 workplaces.
Wales – There is an estimated 4,500 employees in, accounting for 8% of the logistics sector, in around 200 workplaces.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
