Survey on front-line labor: 72% increased pay as part of staff retention efforts in 2021

Instawork, a flexible work marketplace for warehouse and logistics businesses across the U.S., announced today its study called “The State of Warehouse Labor Report,” highlighting trends in staffing and retention efforts for the warehouse and logistics industry. Despite being over two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, 60% of light-industrial businesses reported struggling to keep up with increased demand in 2021, the survey found. 75% of these businesses also don’t feel fully prepared for business demands in 2022. Staff retention continues to be a challenge amidst ongoing labor shortages, with 31% of survey participants reporting having to forego business in 2021 due to lack of workers. Only 39% of those surveyed focused on hiring new staff, while 72% increased pay as part of staff retention efforts. The average raise was $2.54 per hour for most light-industrial hourly full-time staff.