It’s no secret that the North American supply chain sector is facing a shortage of new talent. I have read numerous reports over the past few years raising red flags about the current shortage of entry and mid-level executives in the field. The industry is, after all, taken for granted by most people. Tell someone that you’re a doctor or a teacher, and they immediately have an idea of the work that you do. Tell someone you’re a supply chain professional and they might respond with, “what’s a supply chain?”
From experience, I’ve seen that most of the current senior level roles in the industry are filled by experienced baby boomers, many of whom will retire in the next decade or so. When this happens, the industry is likely to see a shortage of talent. The North American supply chain industry is just too important to our economy to be faced with a lack of future leadership.
So how do we attract young talent into this dynamic and exciting field? Universities seem to be doing their part in developing talent by rolling out new programs and degrees that prepare students to enter the supply chain industry. However, I think companies need to play a greater role in educating youth and attracting them to the industry.
I’m proud to say that here at LIDD, we are making strides in developing the next generation of supply chain leaders. Many of our project team members are below the age of 30 and have collaborated with supply chain professionals all over North America, from line workers to CEOs, in industries ranging from Food & Beverage to Mining. Our young professionals are constantly working with senior level executives and more importantly, learning from them, so that they can take on leadership roles when the time comes.
If you would like to learn more about the work that LIDD does or the supply chain industry in general, I encourage you to get in touch. We’ve also got a range of educational materials, from blogs to e-books on our website. And if you’re excited to get started as a supply chain professional – we look forward to hearing from you!