Logistics reimagined: More young people in Singapore are drawn to tech-related roles in the field

Gone are the days when logistics was seen as an unglamorous, manual labour-intensive field.

As many bigger logistics firms undergo digital transformation in recent years, they also become increasingly attractive to young professionals looking for opportunities to flex their skills in analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector.

For logistics firm Schenker Singapore, the company has seen a 150 per cent increase in the number of new employees aged 35 and below in the year between April 2024 and March 2025, compared with the same period two years ago.
 

One of its young operations executives, Ms Cindy Toh, came to learn about the shift towards digitalisation and automation in the sector when she was interning at another logistics company’s airfreight department.

Her role now involves identifying automation opportunities and developing digital solutions to streamline operations. For example, she has developed a customised app for a cloud service provider, which is used among her colleagues across Europe, Africa and the Middle East as a one-stop solution covering operations, performance, and compliance.

“When I tell my family and friends that I work in the logistics sector, they are usually curious about what exactly I do, as they often associate logistics with just moving cargo,” the 26-year-old said, adding that she often has to explain that the “vast and exciting industry” offers much more than that, with roles in IT systems, project management, and industrial engineering.
 

“The most rewarding part for me is seeing the solutions I built being successfully adopted by the operations team,” she said.

In another example, multinational logistics company DHL Singapore has seen a “gradual increase of interest” in the sector among younger employees, specifically in roles involving supply chain analytics, operations planning, and tech-enabled logistics.

The percentage of new local hires aged 35 and below has trended upwards from 19 per cent in 2022 to 24 per cent in 2024, said the firm’s head of talent acquisition Pauline Ng, adding that younger candidates are more drawn to logistics companies that embrace automation and sustainability.
 

Ms Ramita Rana, a data analyst at DHL Singapore, said: “My first thought of DHL has always been parcel delivery, but I realise that it is more diverse.”
 

The 25-year-old now helps the company identify areas where transport operations can be optimised. She also automates reporting processes that supports decision making for the management and provides customer insights, among other things.
 

Making the switch

But it is not just fresh graduates who are drawn to the refreshed logistics sector. Some mid-career professionals have also made the switch after completing training programmes provided by the companies, through initiatives like Workforce Singapore’s Career Conversion Programme and SkillsFuture Work-Study Diploma or degree programmes.

Mr Muhammad Danial Umar, 33, left his accounting job to join Schenker Singapore in 2018 for “better career prospects and job security”. While he started off without a logistics background, he attended many training sessions organised by the company to increase his knowledge.

When the company introduced automation work in 2019, Mr Danial became part of the team responsible for understanding the data and logic behind the processes. He also played a key role in onboarding new joiners in the automation team.

“Logistics is not all about doing the same routine thing over and over again,” he said, noting that advancements in automation, data analytics, and sustainability have made room for growth and innovation in the sector.
 

To boost their appeal to young workers, firms like Schenker Singapore also take to social media to highlight their unique facilities and staff bonding activities. This helps build a more modern and progressive image for the logistics sector.

ST Logistics has also seen about 10 per cent increase in the number of new hires aged 35 and below between 2022 and 2025. Its chief executive Loganathan Ramasamy said the company has made “an intentional, strategic push to upskill our workforce and support academic advancement”.

“These initiatives do not just build a resilient talent pipeline – they show young jobseekers that logistics today is smart, purposeful, and full of promise.”

Nearly 98 per cent of its employees participate in its in-house Skills Allowance Scheme, which offers employees up to S$450 monthly to pick up technical and digital skills.

A cash reward is offered to incentivise employees to develop projects with AI capability. Managers are given a one-time lump sum of S$1,000 if they can lead by example in such initiatives.

Among the beneficiaries of these efforts is Mr Frederick Wong, 30, who joined ST Logistics in 2017 as a logistics supervisor after graduating from the Institute of Technical Education. He is now pursuing a diploma in supply chain management with the company’s support.
 

Mr Wong currently oversees operations for the Supply Hub eMart Team, where National Servicemen can purchase personal equipment online using eMart credits.

During a media visit to ST Logistics in March 2025, he demonstrated the use of the company’s “four-way shuttle” automation system, which incorporates AI to boost productivity.
 

“The robots will adjust the pallets to the front so that the next day, there will be less waiting time for staff to pick them up from the picking station,” he said, adding that to fulfill orders, the goods are now being delivered to the staff for more convenience and efficiency.

While tech-related roles have attracted younger workers to the larger logistics companies here, ST understands that the smaller players have yet to benefit from the new blood.

Ms Diyls Chua, an Institute for Human Resource Professionals certified professional in the logistics industry, said smaller logistics firms have yet to see an upward trend in the number of young hires.

Ms Juliet Tan, founder of HR consultancy firm Emplifi, which specialise in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), shared similar observations. She said this is possibly because automation and AI are not as widely deployed in SMEs yet.

Ms Chua pointed out that there are sub-sectors within the logistics industry that are less physically laborious but require versatility and adaptability, such as customer service and enterprise operations.

Young graduates with a positive learning attitude and high energy can look out for these roles, she said.
 

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.