Around 150,000 new workers need to be found by 2029, against a backdrop of more than 12 million inactive people and a training system that every year produces less than half the technicians required by businesses. These are some of the figures at the centre of the workshop "The Human Factor: Skills and Attractiveness", promoted by Federtrasporto and the Freight Leaders Council, with the participation of representatives from Agens, Anita, Assaeroporti, Confindustria, Eurispes, Gi Group and Randstad Services.
The meeting highlighted how the real challenge for the future of transport and logistics is not solely technological or infrastructural, but above all human. Digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence and the energy transition are transforming the sector, but it will be people and their skills that determine its success.
According to data cited during the workshop, there are currently more than 12 million inactive people aged between 15 and 64, a pool that includes young people who are neither studying nor working, women who face barriers to entering or returning to the workforce, discouraged individuals and older workers who have left productive processes. This represents a potential resource that could help reduce the growing gap between labour supply and demand.
"We must enhance human capital and modernise the system of access to employment," said Paolo Colombo, president of Federtrasporto. "We need to strengthen dialogue between businesses, associations, the training system and institutions. It is essential to engage a growing share of people who are currently far from the labour market through guidance, training and qualified support."
"The problem is not simply finding more people, but creating the conditions for more people to enter and remain in the sector," said Massimo Marciani, president of the Freight Leaders Council.
