The workforce in the logistics sector in Brazil grew by 12% between 2018 and 2023, increasing from 2.63 million to 2.86 million professionals, according to the report "The Workforce in the Logistics Sector in Brazil," prepared by Gi Group Holding in partnership with Lightcast, a company specializing in data analysis of the labor market. This growth was driven by investments in increasing logistics capacity in the post-pandemic period, but it still does not resolve the sector's main bottlenecks: lack of qualified personnel, low diversity, and an aging workforce.
In Latin America, the number of job openings in logistics jumped from 3,546 in 2019 to more than 2.39 million in 2024 — an increase of 67,000% in just five years. However, the study points out that a large portion of hiring is still concentrated in traditional operational roles, such as warehouse operators, packers, and drivers, while the demand for more qualified professionals is growing.
“We have a sector that has grown rapidly in terms of job volume, but whose talent pool is still concentrated in operational roles. The challenge now is to ensure that workforce qualifications keep pace with this growth. Otherwise, there will be a structural bottleneck that could hinder the country's logistical potential,” says Alexandre Gonçalves Sousa, manager of the logistics division at Gi BPO, a unit specializing in outsourcing within Gi Group Holding.
In Brazil, warehouse operators alone have over 1.5 million professionals. Conversely, specialized roles remain underrepresented, despite significant growth in demand for these positions. Demand for safety engineers increased by 275.6% in 12 months. Skills such as robotic process automation (+175.8%), computerized maintenance management (+65.3%), and customs regulation (+113.4%) are among the most sought after by companies.
"Logistics is becoming increasingly technological and connected. The demand for skills such as process automation, artificial intelligence, and computerized maintenance management indicates that the sector has already entered the era of Industry 4.0, but the workforce still needs to keep up with this transformation," the manager points out.
Soft skills are also gaining ground. Among the highlights are team motivation (+122.5%), strategic decision-making (+93.4%), and customer focus (+51.4%), indicating the growing appreciation for profiles with leadership, management, and results-oriented vision.
Aging and male workforce
The survey also shows that the logistics sector continues to face historical challenges. One of them is gender inequality. Women represent only 11% of the formal workforce in Brazil, with very limited participation in roles such as supply chain management, logistics, and machine operation.
“Even with some progress, the presence of women remains very low in logistics. We need to go beyond hiring targets and look at building inclusive environments with real opportunities for growth for women at all hierarchical levels,” argues Alexandre.
Age is also a critical factor. Professionals between 25 and 54 years old represent 74% of the workforce, while young people under 25 make up only 11%. Meanwhile, workers over 65 years old number 111,966—a group expected to leave the market in the coming years.
“The fact that more than 111,000 professionals over 65 years old are still active in Brazilian logistics reveals how much the sector depends on a generation that is about to leave the market. Attracting young people and promoting succession will be vital to ensuring stability in the medium and long term,” he warns.
Planning and training are essential for the future.
For Gi Group Holding, the logistics sector will only be able to sustain its growth with investments in skills development, diversity, and workforce planning. The company operates with integrated solutions in recruitment, BPO, RPO, training, consulting, and long-term employability in various sectors of the economy, such as industry, consumer goods, technology, retail, and services.
“Companies that invest now in skills development, continuous training, and efficient talent management strategies will be better prepared to face the growing complexity of supply chains. The workforce needs to evolve along with the sector,” concludes the manager of Gi BPO.
