The logistics and transportation sectors are bracing for meaningful expansion, despite growing challenges in finding qualified workers. A new study indicates over half of companies plan too increase hiring through 2026, fueled by continued demand across global supply chains and the sector’s post-pandemic growth. However, Portugal, in particular, is struggling to meet workforce needs, ranking among the countries with the most acute talent shortages – a trend impacting recruitment across all skill levels, and especially for specialized tech roles. this report details the findings of a ManpowerGroup study examining the specific hurdles and strategies companies are employing to secure the talent they need.
More than half of logistics and transportation companies – 57% – plan to expand their workforces by 2026, according to a new study, signaling continued growth in a sector vital to global supply chains. The anticipated hiring spree spans all skill levels, though competition for tech talent is particularly fierce.
Portugal is already experiencing significant difficulty in attracting qualified workers, ranking as the third-highest country where employers report talent shortages. This scarcity is acutely felt within the transportation, logistics, and automotive industries.
A survey of 62 companies, forming the basis of the ManpowerGroup’s “Talent Challenges in Logistics and Transport” study, revealed that 85% of respondents are facing challenges in recruitment. The study, conducted between June and September of this year, indicates an 11 percentage point increase in hiring difficulties compared to 2024. The findings underscore the increasing pressure on companies to secure skilled labor.
Companies are prioritizing competitive salaries and upskilling initiatives to attract and retain talent, the study showed. The logistics sector, which has been under intense pressure since the pandemic, is adapting to evolving demands and technological advancements.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Pedro Amorim, corporate sales director at ManpowerGroup, told Jornal Económico that 57% of organizations in the sector intend to increase their teams. He added that only 3% are considering a reduction in staff. “This translates to a net employment increase of 54% of companies,” Amorim stated, reflecting expectations of increased business activity.
Priority hiring areas include operations, transport, and mobility, cited by 65% of companies, as well as logistics, warehousing, and procurement (61%).
Demand for tech skills is rapidly growing as companies increasingly adopt technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data collection and processing. Consequently, IT & Data (37%) and cybersecurity (22%) are also among the areas with the highest hiring needs.
Amorim also noted that, in a “highly competitive market” where companies need to “strengthen their commercial approaches to grow,” roles in sales, marketing, and customer service are also in higher demand, mentioned by 14% of companies.
Within the transportation and logistics sector, the most sought-after roles, in order of demand, are warehouse operators (47%), logistics managers (31%), forklift operators (29%), and heavy vehicle drivers (24%). Positions related to digital transformation, such as business intelligence (BI) and data analysts, as well as roles in AI and machine learning, and cybersecurity, are also highly sought after.
A Tight Labor Market
The shortage of technical and operational skills has been a long-standing issue. “This phenomenon results in continuous and recurring demand, driven by a skills mismatch and a lack of technical training in specialized profiles (45%),” Amorim explained.
Employers also cite factors intrinsic to the roles and the sector, including working conditions (55%), the need for geographical mobility (33%), and a less attractive image of the industry (33%).
In a digitalizing economy, the need for tech talent is universal. “There is a demand for technological functions by this sector, which has to compete with all others to attract technological profiles. The challenge is “intensified” because others have “superior attractiveness” due to their “exposure to new technologies,” their “sector image,” and “salary conditions.”
Logistics, a key component of the global supply chain, has proven to be one of the most dynamic sectors since the onset of the pandemic, and that momentum continues.
