Generation gap in transport: who will drive Poland's lorries in 15 years' time
Drivers under 25 make up just 1.5% of the market, while 55% of current drivers are considering leaving. Firms recruit abroad, but red tape slows them.
Young people give lorry cabs a wide berth, and those who drive today are increasingly thinking of leaving. The transport industry faces a serious staffing shortage.
An ageing workforce and a wave of departures
Drivers under 25 account for a mere 1.5% of the market. Almost two-thirds of lorry drivers are over 40, and the average age is already above 50. As many as 55% of drivers are considering giving up the profession, and nearly 38% want to do so within a year.
The most frequently cited reasons:
- inadequate pay (68.2% of responses),
- no work-life balance (63%),
- appalling facilities at lorry parks (63%).
The result? As many as 65% of experienced drivers would not recommend the job to young people.
Recruiting abroad and unfilled vacancies
Some 55% of companies already employ staff from abroad. Recruitment is held back by bureaucracy, however: as many as 61% of employers struggle with residence legalisation procedures. Some 32% of foreign nationals complain about a lack of support, and 31% have experienced discrimination.
Despite the economic slowdown, 55% of companies still have vacancies (mostly a shortfall of 5-10% of staff). Large businesses feel it most, while smaller ones (11-50 employees) are coping steadily. The average time to find an employee is stretching to more than two months. Firms tempt candidates with modern fleets and parking air conditioning, but 73% of them cannot meet candidates' salary expectations.
Will money and better-equipped cabs alone be enough to attract the younger generation to the profession? What needs to change?