Title: Labour shortage during COVID-19 pandemic in the logistic sector of Singapore

Authors: Rajiv Aserkar; Dorrin Uma Dewi Goval

Addresses: S.P. Jain School of Global Management, 10 Hyderabad Road, 119579, Singapore ' S.P. Jain School of Global Management, 10 Hyderabad Road, 119579, Singapore

Abstract: This research investigates the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease, also referred to as COVID-19 pandemic, on the logistics industry. It examines the impact of COVID-19, the strategies used for continuity of operations and the new adoption taken by the companies to overcome the labour shortage. We use a qualitative, multiple-case-study method, collecting data from ten sample companies with ten respondents from the logistics industry in Singapore. The findings show that the strategies used by companies to re-skill workers, create changes in the operating procedures, digitalisation, and process automation able to mitigate the adverse impact of labour shortage in the logistics industry. The study proposes several strategies that managers in this sector can adopt to improve labour shortage during and after the COVID-19 era.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; logistics industry; impacts; strategies; Singapore.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2023.136938

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2023 Vol.10 No.4, pp.368 - 385

Received: 31 May 2023
Accepted: 22 Sep 2023
Published online: 29 Feb 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article