The supply chain industry in Asia Pacific is struggling to attract young talent.
Technology has changed the type of skillsets required in supply chain roles, but new research revealed the industry is not prepared for the advancement in tech.
Research conducted by Bastian Consulting, revealed that the overwhelming majority of respondents think graduates are unlikely to apply for roles in supply chain.
Seventy-two per cent of respondents said graduates are more likely to explore roles in sectors other than supply chain.
Why are young people avoiding jobs in a booming industry?
The survey of more than 500 supply chain executives from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand, showed that 76 per cent of respondents say there is not enough being done to raise awareness of the opportunities available in the supply chain.
“Over the past 12 months, supply chain has made the headlines and made the public more aware of its important role in society as well the major contribution it makes to the global economy. These results clearly show that the industry can do more to communicate the diverse opportunities available in this growing and exciting sector,” Tony Richter, Founder of Bastian Consulting said.
“We’ve never been busier… it is a bit puzzling as to why the staff is not available” tony says.
Respondents were also in agreement that employers are not doing enough to engage with young people, as 70 per cent said organisations are lacking in apprenticeships or graduate recruitment program opportunities.
Industry needs to do more to “communicate the diverse opportunities available”
Tony Richter says that while there is a lot of investment going into technology, the industry needs to do more to invest in raising awareness of the profession as well as market the many opportunities available to young people.
“People use to think about logistics as warehousing and trucking, transport and forklifts. From a diversity perspective, it was almost entirely male driven”
Tony says.
Tony adds that the sector is on an evolutionary journey, but notes there is more work to be done in terms of the gender balance.
In New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan, the majority of survey respondents think there is a gender imbalance across the supply chain workforce.
On the contrary, just over half of respondents from Australia and Thailand do not think there is a gender imbalance issue in the supply chain industry.
How does supply chain tackle this?
“The tech side of supply chain see’s more gender balance. Not only supply chain, but the tech sector as a whole,” Tony says.
Interestingly, despite the perception that the supply chain sector is grappling with an ageing workforce, less than half of respondents said there is an ageing workforce issue in supply chain.
However, he admits diversity in supply chain is going to be a long term journey,
“Typically in the warehouse and operational areas, that are really male dominant in terms of culture,” Tony says.
"There needs to be a lot of work around investing, encourage and welcoming in those environments. But it won't happen overnight"
Technology is playing a huge role in supply chain and its changing the game
Just over half of respondents said technology has changed the type of skillsets required in supply chain roles. Respondents were more united in their view that the industry is not ready for this change, as 68 per cent of respondents said that the industry is not prepared for the shift in skillsets that will be required.
Tony on the growth of digital supply chains.
Tony says AI and blockchain are a “huge” focus, especially when it comes to adapting the technology to supply chain.
“One of the big areas we’re seeing a lot of focus on right now is implementation and integration.”
Tony notes the opportunities in connectivity of multiple technologies, in a logistics or supply chain environment, is in demand.
“One of the biggest issues facing the supply chain industry is a lack of talent”
Tony says.
This is clearly being felt across the entire APAC region.
“Creating an inclusive culture, equal opportunities and career development programs alongside a united effort to demonstrate that this industry is more than just forklifts and warehouses, should be high on the agenda for any business looking to attract new talent in this sector,” Tony concluded.
Wall Street signals potential recovery from stock selloff, but caution remains amid trade policy uncertainties ahead of tariff announcements.
In Short
Wall Street traders see signs that the recent US stock selloff may be concluding, with strategists from JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley cautiously optimistic about a potential recovery. However, they advise caution before heavily investing in equities due to pending trade policy announcements and the need for clarity on tariffs.
Traders on Wall Street are beginning to see signs that the recent US stock selloff may be ending.
Equity strategists from firms like JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley believe the worst of the downturn is likely over.
Positive investor sentiment metrics and seasonal factors support this view.
Targeted tariffs
Major US stock indexes rebounded following reports of President Trump’s plan to implement targeted tariffs, alleviating some inflation and economic concerns.
The stock market had experienced a sharp decline since mid-February, with the S&P 500 Index suffering its seventh-fastest 10% drop in nearly a century, translating to over $5.6 trillion lost in market capitalisation.
JPMorgan noted that much of this decline affected momentum stocks, which had registered significant gains prior to the downturn, but this has alleviated previous crowding in that market segment.
Recent market recoveries have been noted in sectors that were hit hardest during the selloff, particularly among the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks.
Strategists, including those from Morgan Stanley, are cautiously optimistic about a potential tradeable rally, influenced by various factors including a falling US dollar and pessimistic market sentiment.
ASX200 rises amid potential US rate cuts and Chinese stimulus as mining and banks drive market gains.
In Short
The Australian share market rose, driven by hopes for a US interest rate cut and potential Chinese stimulus, with significant gains in resources and energy sectors. The ASX200 closed up 64.4 points, while some tech stocks had mixed results and Clarity Pharmaceuticals was the biggest loser.
The Australian share market experienced a significant uplift today, driven largely by discussions surrounding a potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and the anticipated stimulus measures from China.
The ASX200 rose by 64.4 points, or 0.83 per cent, closing at 7854.1. The All Ordinaries index also saw gains of 68.80 points, or 0.86 per cent, ending at 8082.1.
The Australian dollar appreciated by 0.03 per cent, purchasing US63.25 cents at the market close.
Eight of the eleven sectors in the ASX concluded positively, with the materials sector leading the way, increasing by 1.58 per cent.
Speculation on new Chinese stimulus measures contributed to this rise, with BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue all recording notable gains.
Mineral Resources surged by 11.57 per cent, marking it as the day’s top performer.
Many mining stocks also witnessed substantial increases, including IGO and Pilbara Minerals.
In the energy sector, Woodside Energy and Ampol saw price increases amid renewed investor interest in riskier assets.
The big four banks notably supported the market’s advance, with Commonwealth Bank and ANZ both rising.
Meanwhile, local tech stocks showed mixed results as excitement grows with the US GTC conference beginning today.
The tech sector in Australia is anticipated to reach substantial growth in the coming years, as experts express cautious optimism amidst current market sentiment.
Dow gains over 650 points in relief bounce but still faces worst weekly loss since 2023 amid ongoing tariff uncertainties.
In Short
Stocks rebounded on Friday, with the Dow gaining 674.62 points, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experiencing their best day of 2025. Despite this, all major indices faced weekly losses due to ongoing trade policy concerns and declining consumer confidence.
Stocks rallied on Friday, reversing some losses from earlier in the week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 674.62 points, or 1.65%, closing at 41,488.19.
The S&P 500 climbed 2.13% to finish at 5,638.94, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.61% to settle at 17,754.09. This marked the best day for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in 2025.
Big tech companies rebounded sharply, with Nvidia up over 5%, Tesla rising nearly 4%, and Meta Platforms gaining close to 3%.
Amazon and Apple also saw increases.
The market bounce was attributed to a lack of new tariff-related news from the White House, alleviating some investor concerns.
Following a drop on Thursday, the S&P 500 entered correction territory, having fallen more than 10% from its recent peak.
The Nasdaq slid deeper into correction, while the small-cap Russell 2000 neared a bear market. Uncertainty stemming from President Trump’s trade policies has contributed to heightened market volatility.
Despite Friday’s gains, the three major indices experienced weekly losses, with the Dow down about 3.1%—the worst week since March 2023. S&P 500 and Nasdaq both fell over 2% for their fourth straight weekly decline.
Consumer confidence also declined amid ongoing tariff concerns, with sentiment dropping to 57.9 in March.
Investors await an upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting, where a majority expect interest rates to remain unchanged.
