Georgia’s Center of Innovation for Logistics this week released a new report, “The Logistics of Education and the Education of Logistics,” which identifies and quantifies the gap between the demand for logistics-related jobs and the current supply of logistics programs offered by educational institutions.
According to the report’s analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data, the U.S. will generate approximately 270,200 logistics-related job openings in the U.S. each year and close to 1.1 million by 2016.
In contrast, the nation’s 7,642 educational institutions currently generate just 75,277 formally trained, degreed or certified workers annually, a pace that means roughly only 28 percent of the identified logistics-related job openings will be able to draw from a pool of trained candidates.
The demand for these jobs in Georgia is even greater. More than 9,500 openings per year are created by Georgia’s logistics industry alone. Logistics-related employment in Georgia is expected to grow 5 percent more than the U.S. average, nearly triple the Southeast average, and far exceed the growth of other leading seaport states such as New York, Washington, California and Texas.
“The logistics industry is growing at an ever-increasing pace and facing new challenges and opportunities like never before,” said Page Siplon, executive director of the Center of Innovation for Logistics, headquartered in Savannah.
“Conditions created by new technology, government regulations and increasing demands from consumers to always deliver products faster, better and cheaper will require a workforce that has the skills and real-world training to meet this demand. This will have a profound impact on companies of all types and sizes.”
Siplon said he expects the logistics jobs shortfall could impact both corporate revenues and consumer costs.
Among the report’s findings:
• Logistics in the Southeast (defined in the report as Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida) will grow by a total average rate of 6 percent by 2018, or a total employment of 466,000, with growth mainly led by Georgia and Alabama. Georgia’s logistics industry alone will generate 9,500 job openings per year, each year until 2018.
• Logistics employment in Georgia is projected to grow at a pace some 5 percent higher than the U.S. average — 18 percent compared to 13 percent) and nearly triple the Southeast average, far exceeding the growth of other leading seaport states of New York, Washington state, California and Texas.
• Every year, Georgia issues more than 51 percent of all the truck-driving certificates in the Southeast, which equates to one out of every eight certificates for the entire nation. Georgia also graduates 46 percent of the industrial engineers in the Southeast every year.
Solutions for growing the supply of logistics workers include earlier visibility of logistics in high schools and colleges, increased internships providing real-world experiences, better coordination and support for technical colleges, reduced or eliminated hurdles for military personnel transitioning into civilian life and enhanced marketing of logistics education, Siplon said.
Georgia is home to 11,000 providers of logistics services, from core transportation and facilities, to third-party logistics and software providers, and ranks as the fifth-largest overall logistics employer in the nation. Companies such as Delta Air Lines, UPS, SAIA, Red Prairie and Manhattan Associates are headquartered in Georgia, along with many major consumers of logistics such as Home Depot, Coca-Cola and Gulfstream.
To view the report in full, visit www.GeorgiaLogistics.com.
The Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is the leading statewide resource for fueling logistics industry growth and global competitiveness.
More money for deepening
Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday he plans to recommend another $40 million to $50 million in state spending to deepen the Savannah River and harbor, which last week got final regulatory approval from the federal government.
Georgia has already put up $181 million for its cost-share portion of the deepening tab, including $47 million last year. The $652 million project will deepen the Savannah River from 42 feet to 47 feet to accommodate the larger container ships expected by 2016.
Roseway headed back to Savannah
The World Ocean School’s tall ship Roseway, which was here in May for the Tall Ships Festival, returns next week to make her home in Savannah for the holidays.
In partnership with the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the Roseway will spend the Thanksgiving holiday season here, offering educational programs for local schools and youth groups as well as hosting a number of public events through mid-December from her dock at the Westin Savannah Harbor Marina.
The 137-foot schooner will arrive with a crew of 10 and immediately jump into community activities. By day, the Roseway will carry out her mission of providing academically integrated tall ship programs for students of all ages in both public and independent schools throughout the area.
As part of fundraising to support World Ocean School’s programs, the ship will be open in the evenings for sunset sails along the river as well as private charters and some special events, such as a ride-along during the Savannah Harbor Foundation Boat Parade of Lights on Nov. 24.
“We aim to cultivate an expanded world view for the children we serve. It’s amazing the lasting impact that even a few short hours can have on some of these kids,” said Dwight Deckelmann, captain of the Roseway.
Mark Spadoni, general manager of the Westin, agreed.
“I am thrilled that we are able to help the World Ocean School reach children, especially the under-served youth in our community. By donating the dock space and assisting in fundraising, we hope that Roseway can create a lasting impact on the lives of our youth.”
For additional information or to make a reservation for a school group, contact the World Ocean School at 207-236-7482 or visit them at WorldOceanSchool.org. For more information on private events, contact The Westin at 912-201-2000.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.
Terminal Ship name Arrival
GCT ZIM LUANDA Today
GCT OOCL KOBE Today
GCT MOL PARAMOUNT Today
GCT SEOUL EXPRESS Today
GCT VIRGINIA Today
GCT MSC JOANNA Saturday
GCT MSC MONTEREY Saturday
GCT MSC LUISA Saturday
GCT MELINA Saturday
GCT MSC BARCELONA Saturday
GCT ROTTERDAM EXPRESS Saturday
GCT SANTA PELAGIA Saturday
OT PARSIFAL Saturday
GCT HYUNDAI SUPREME Sunday
GCT APL CORAL Sunday
GCT CMA CGM MANET Sunday
GCT CHISWICK BRIDGE Sunday
GCT PHILADELPHIA EXPRESS Sunday
GCT ITALY EXPRESS Sunday
OT TAMPA Sunday
OT SAUDI TABUK Sunday
OT TORTUGAS Sunday
GCT STADT LUNEBURG Monday
GCT CSCL VANCOUVER Monday
GCT HOLSATIA Monday
GCT JO ILEX Monday
GCT MUSTAFA DAYI Monday
GCT MAERSK IOWA Monday
GCT VERACRUZ EXPRESS Monday
GCT NYK ROMULUS Monday
GCT HANJIN IRENE Monday
GCT CMA CGM L’ETOILE Monday
GCT HANJIN MADRID Monday
OT TORRENS Monday
GCT HOECHST EXPRESS Tuesday
GCT MOL ENDOWMENT Tuesday
GCT ZIM CONSTANZA Tuesday
OT TIGER Tuesday
GCT AMERICA EXPRESS Wednesday
GCT HYUNDAI DYNASTY Wednesday
GCT SEA-LAND EAGLE Wednesday
GCT STADT GERA Wednesday
GCT HANJIN MALTA Wednesday
GCT AXEL MAERSK Wednesday
GCT BAVARIA Thursday
GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday
GCT BUSAN EXPRESS Thursday
GCT MSC TEXAS Thursday
GCT MARE ATLANTICUM Thursday
GCT ZIM MEDITERRANEAN Thursday
GCT MSC SINDY Thursday
GCT MAERSK DAUPHIN Thursday
OT ORANGE ISLAND Thursday