Job Opportunities in Warehouse and Distribution Industries

If you are an employee in the warehouse industry, you have probably heard many concerns recently about the state of the labor industry in the United States. Maybe you or your co-workers have recently been laid off, or heard rumors of layoffs to come. If this is the case, you should be aware that there are many options available to you. So long as you remain aware of the resources that are available to you, you can get through the struggling economic times and continue to support yourself and your family.

If you are not in a warehouse supervisor position, there is good news: the number of warehouse employees has steadily gone up throughout the summer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also predicts an increase in wages for production workers and number of warehouse jobs nationwide. Laborers who make the highest income, according to the BLS, are transportation, storage, and distribution managers. These are followed by shipping, receiving and stock clerks.

However, if you are a warehouse supervisor, you should probably consider some other options that are available to you. One of the main reasons that supervisors are being laid off more than regular warehouse workers is that supervisors make more money and, therefore, cost more to employ. Also, supervisors cost more to train, so companies would rather keep on employees who need less training. One important thing to consider is that even if your warehouse job seems safe at the moment, it is always a good idea to plan ahead and keep your options open. Explore ways that you can update your education or training, or look into moving to another state, if that is a possibility.

The U.S. Department of Labor provides a service called Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). What this means is that if you have been laid off and are having trouble finding another job in the same industry, you may be eligible to receive assistance from the government to train for another industry. This is a great opportunity to receive some education and training, and even assistance with finding a job once your training is complete. You can visit the Employment and Training Administration fact sheet for more information.

Another option to keep in mind is continuing your education. Particularly if you have not received your high school diploma, you can probably qualify for a degree or equivalent by taking an exam online. There are many educational resources on the web that provide information on obtaining your GED or high school equivalency exam. You may even be able to get free training and practice tests for your high school diploma by contacting your state education department or simply entering "GED" into a search engine. If you're still not sure whether you should get your high school diploma or equivalency certificate, consider this: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2008, people over the age of 18 who had graduated high school made over $10,000 more than those who did not graduate high school. Also, unemployment for people with a high school degree or equivalent was lower by 3.3% than people who had no high school diploma.

For workers who have graduated from high school, it may be wise to consider trade school, or going for an associate's degree. In the same U.S. Census Bureau report that is mentioned above, it states that people over 18 who had their associate's degree earned over $8,000 more than adults who only had a high school degree or equivalent. Many community colleges offer associate's degree programs at very affordable prices and in very little time. You can also get your associate's degree or other certification online, which may be more convenient and affordable for some people.

Regardless of your employment situation, whether you currently hold a warehouse position or you have experience working in this industry, you have many options and resources. Be sure to check with your state labor department, education department, and online!

Job Category: Warehouse & Production

Source: Gregory Randow