The postal service industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; road haulage; storage and warehousing; wholesaling; freight forwarding; 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.
The postal service industry includes the transport and delivery of letters and parcels. It is the second largest industry within the logistics sector. The Royal Mail, as the largest employer within the postal service industry collects, processes, and delivers around 84 million items to 27 million addresses. Additionally, it serves 28 million customers through its network of some 14,300 Post Offices.
Key facts:
- There are 232,500 people working in the postal service industry, which equates to 14% of the logistics workforce in the UK.
- Of these 232,500 people, almost 193,000 work for the Royal Mail Group, which is almost 1% of the working population.
- Postal service has 4,800 workplaces across the UK.
- The workforce has an older age profile compared to other industries in the sector.
- The industry appears to provide the greatest opportunity of part‐time working.
- There are limited opportunities for self‐employment.
Jobs in the industry range from: mail sorter, postal delivery worker, delivery van drivers, fork lift truck operatives, couriers, LGV drivers.
National and regional data
East Midlands – 156,600 employees work within the logistics sector in the region. Of these 17,000 people work in postal service, this equates to 11% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.
East of England – 186,700 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the East of England, of these 27,100 work in postal service. This is 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – 178,800 employees work in logistics in London. In this region 27,200 people work in postal service, which accounts for 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North East – The logistics sector employs 55,000 workers in the North East, of these, 9,700 are employed in postal service. This is 18% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – 193,400 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the North West, of these 23,900 are employed in the postal service. Postal Service employment accounts for 13% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South East – 256,300 employees work in logistics in the region. The postal service industry employs 33,000 employees, this equates to 13% of the logistics workforce in the South East.
South West – 135,100 employees work within the logistics sector in this region. Of these 23,400 people work in postal service, this equates to 17% of the logistics workforce in the South West.
West Midlands – The logistics sector employs 187,500 in the West Midlands, of these 16,700 are employed in the postal service. This is 9% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – 158,100 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the region. 21,100 of these individuals work in postal service. This is 13% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Northern Ireland – There is an estimated 4,400 employees in postal services, accounting for 15% of the logistics sector, in around 170 workplaces.
Scotland – There is an estimated 18,700 employees in postal services, accounting for 16% of the logistics sector, in around 700 workplaces.
Wales – There is an estimated 10,500 employees in postal services, accounting for 19% of the logistics sector, in around 200 workplaces.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 200 7 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
