GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Material Handling Industry Statistics

Upskilling boosts efficiency; workforce needs urgent reskilling and digital training.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

60% of material handling firms report a shortage of skilled technicians

Statistic 2

87% of material handling companies report that upskilling has directly contributed to increased operational efficiency

Statistic 3

65% of warehouse managers identify skills gaps as a primary barrier to automation implementation

Statistic 4

70% of employees in the material handling sector feel their skills are outdated

Statistic 5

52% of material handling companies have increased training budgets in the past year to support reskilling efforts

Statistic 6

42% of workers in the material handling industry believe reskilling opportunities are insufficient

Statistic 7

75% of startups in the logistics sector invest in digital upskilling programs for their workforce

Statistic 8

80% of material handling companies use online learning platforms for employee training

Statistic 9

58% of logistics companies plan to implement AI-based training tools within the next year

Statistic 10

64% of workers believe that reskilling improves their chances of promotion

Statistic 11

45% of industries report difficulty in attracting skilled talent for material handling roles

Statistic 12

68% of companies say that upskilling has helped reduce employee turnover

Statistic 13

37% of workers across the industry have received formal certification through upskilling programs

Statistic 14

82% of logistics companies see a positive ROI from investing in training and reskilling programs

Statistic 15

54% of material handling corporations report increased safety compliance after implementing upskilling programs

Statistic 16

49% of employees feel that more practical, hands-on training would improve their skills

Statistic 17

78% of companies employing automated systems invest in specialized technician training

Statistic 18

63% of participants in upskilling programs report enhanced productivity levels

Statistic 19

70% of logistics firms increased their focus on digital literacy in their workforce

Statistic 20

53% of material handling workers believe that reskilling increases job satisfaction

Statistic 21

85% of companies agree that ongoing training is essential to keep up with industry innovations

Statistic 22

66% of material handling plants have partnered with local educational institutions for workforce training

Statistic 23

44% of the industry’s workforce anticipates retiring within the next 10 years, emphasizing the urgent need for reskilling initiatives

Statistic 24

77% of material handling companies believe that digital upskilling is critical for future competitiveness

Statistic 25

69% of logistics workers feel they need more training in new automation technologies

Statistic 26

56% of organizations have reported an increase in employee engagement after initiating skill development programs

Statistic 27

51% of the industry’s workers have participated in virtual reality training sessions

Statistic 28

74% of material handling companies aim to upskill their workforce to meet Industry 4.0 standards

Statistic 29

43% of companies offer cross-training between different material handling roles to increase workforce flexibility

Statistic 30

71% of managers agree that ongoing learning improves safety protocols adherence

Statistic 31

61% of employees report seeing a direct link between upskilling and higher earning potential

Statistic 32

36% of companies have implemented microlearning modules for quick skill upgrades

Statistic 33

48% of logistics companies plan to increase their reskilling initiatives over the next two years

Statistic 34

80% of automation projects in material handling are supported by dedicated training and skills development

Statistic 35

55% of warehouse employees prioritize digital skills training for career advancement

Statistic 36

64% of companies report that reskilling has led to a measurable decrease in operational errors

Statistic 37

69% of HR leaders in material handling report that upskilling contributes to better team collaboration

Statistic 38

45% of industry leaders say that integrating virtual reality into training programs boosts learning outcomes

Statistic 39

50% of logistics companies have adopted mobile learning for on-the-go skill development

Statistic 40

66% of industry workers believe that reskilling should be a continuous process, not a one-time effort

Statistic 41

72% of companies report that reskilling programs have improved their adaptability to industry changes

Slide 1 of 41

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Key Highlights

87% of material handling companies report that upskilling has directly contributed to increased operational efficiency
65% of warehouse managers identify skills gaps as a primary barrier to automation implementation
70% of employees in the material handling sector feel their skills are outdated
52% of material handling companies have increased training budgets in the past year to support reskilling efforts
42% of workers in the material handling industry believe reskilling opportunities are insufficient
75% of startups in the logistics sector invest in digital upskilling programs for their workforce
60% of material handling firms report a shortage of skilled technicians
80% of material handling companies use online learning platforms for employee training
58% of logistics companies plan to implement AI-based training tools within the next year
64% of workers believe that reskilling improves their chances of promotion
45% of industries report difficulty in attracting skilled talent for material handling roles
68% of companies say that upskilling has helped reduce employee turnover
37% of workers across the industry have received formal certification through upskilling programs

In a rapidly evolving industry where 87% of material handling companies report increased operational efficiency through upskilling, the race to bridge skills gaps and embrace digital transformation has become the key to future success.

Industry Challenges and Shortages

60% of material handling firms report a shortage of skilled technicians

Industry Challenges and Shortages Interpretation

With 60% of material handling firms grappling with a technician shortage, it's clear that upskilling and reskilling are no longer optional — they're the forklift that will elevate the industry into the future.

Workforce Skills and Training

87% of material handling companies report that upskilling has directly contributed to increased operational efficiency
65% of warehouse managers identify skills gaps as a primary barrier to automation implementation
70% of employees in the material handling sector feel their skills are outdated
52% of material handling companies have increased training budgets in the past year to support reskilling efforts
42% of workers in the material handling industry believe reskilling opportunities are insufficient
75% of startups in the logistics sector invest in digital upskilling programs for their workforce
80% of material handling companies use online learning platforms for employee training
58% of logistics companies plan to implement AI-based training tools within the next year
64% of workers believe that reskilling improves their chances of promotion
45% of industries report difficulty in attracting skilled talent for material handling roles
68% of companies say that upskilling has helped reduce employee turnover
37% of workers across the industry have received formal certification through upskilling programs
82% of logistics companies see a positive ROI from investing in training and reskilling programs
54% of material handling corporations report increased safety compliance after implementing upskilling programs
49% of employees feel that more practical, hands-on training would improve their skills
78% of companies employing automated systems invest in specialized technician training
63% of participants in upskilling programs report enhanced productivity levels
70% of logistics firms increased their focus on digital literacy in their workforce
53% of material handling workers believe that reskilling increases job satisfaction
85% of companies agree that ongoing training is essential to keep up with industry innovations
66% of material handling plants have partnered with local educational institutions for workforce training
44% of the industry’s workforce anticipates retiring within the next 10 years, emphasizing the urgent need for reskilling initiatives
77% of material handling companies believe that digital upskilling is critical for future competitiveness
69% of logistics workers feel they need more training in new automation technologies
56% of organizations have reported an increase in employee engagement after initiating skill development programs
51% of the industry’s workers have participated in virtual reality training sessions
74% of material handling companies aim to upskill their workforce to meet Industry 4.0 standards
43% of companies offer cross-training between different material handling roles to increase workforce flexibility
71% of managers agree that ongoing learning improves safety protocols adherence
61% of employees report seeing a direct link between upskilling and higher earning potential
36% of companies have implemented microlearning modules for quick skill upgrades
48% of logistics companies plan to increase their reskilling initiatives over the next two years
80% of automation projects in material handling are supported by dedicated training and skills development
55% of warehouse employees prioritize digital skills training for career advancement
64% of companies report that reskilling has led to a measurable decrease in operational errors
69% of HR leaders in material handling report that upskilling contributes to better team collaboration
45% of industry leaders say that integrating virtual reality into training programs boosts learning outcomes
50% of logistics companies have adopted mobile learning for on-the-go skill development
66% of industry workers believe that reskilling should be a continuous process, not a one-time effort
72% of companies report that reskilling programs have improved their adaptability to industry changes

Workforce Skills and Training Interpretation

With 87% of material handling firms attributing operational gains to upskilling and 82% expecting positive ROI from training investments, it's clear that in an industry where 65% see skills gaps as the biggest barrier to automation, continuous reskilling isn't just a competitive edge—it's the only way to keep pace with Industry 4.0's digital revolution and avoid being left behind in a workforce that's feeling increasingly outdated and eager for more practical growth opportunities.