It’s no secret that labor shortage is a challenge – if not the biggest challenge – small businesses and companies in Los Angeles and across the country face. As the global leader in logistics real estate, Prologis has seen this firsthand in the logistics and warehousing space, where our customers have told us finding and retaining talent is a top concern. Demand for a quality talent pool will only rise as the world collectively comes out of the pandemic. Driven in part by the growth in e-commerce, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the transportation, warehousing and related fields will add close to 735,000 jobs by 2031.
Prologis has been part of the Los Angeles community for over 30 years, where we support 445+ customers including major brands, third-party logistics providers as well as smaller and mid-sized companies. With demand for skilled logistics workers at an all-time high, the company launched the Community Workforce Initiative (CWI) in 2018 to build a talent pipeline for our customers, revitalize career pathways and invest in local communities. In partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit organization that drives transformation in the American workforce and education systems, Prologis has developed a free online training program that helps job candidates learn the fundamentals of e-commerce, supply chain and inventory management, safety, and other key skills required for logistics careers.
In the Los Angeles area, Prologis has partnered with the Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network to accelerate growth opportunities for local communities, including Long Beach, Signal Hill, Los Angeles Harbor, and more, by strengthening the local talent pool. Working with JFF and Prologis, the organization will train 1,400 individuals and seek to place 630 individuals into employment over the next two years within the logistics industry. The CWI program also identifies local community-based organizations, community colleges and workforce development boards to assist jobseekers with regional employment opportunities, career guidance, coaching and support.
“The logistics industry offers opportunities for immediate impact and meaningful career pathways, as companies recognize the importance of the supply chain to their operations” said Steven Hussain, vice president of workforce programs and community relations at Prologis. “Prologis aims to equip 25,000 individuals with the skills necessary for transportation, distribution and logistics jobs by the end of 2025. To date, the program has served more than 13,000 people.”
The CWI program also works to raise awareness with high school students about the availability of high-growth jobs in the logistics industry. EXP, a Southern California nonprofit organization focused on bringing industry and schools together to build tomorrow’s workforce, signed on as our first CWI partner in 2018. Together, we launched the EXP Internship Program: Powered by Prologis, which has placed 363 high school students to date from communities around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in local trade internships. Students benefit from job skills training workshops, designed with input from Prologis, and receive career guidance from industry executives. Prologis customers that have hosted EXP interns include Nova Transportation Services, Franco Trucking, NFI California Cartage, Yusen Logistics and Andeavor. Approximately 150 students will go through the EXP Internship Program this summer.
“Logistics and supply chain management are a critical element of global trade and California’s economy,” said Amy Grat, chief executive officer, EXP. “Partnering with Prologis advances EXP’s mission to connect youth to the diverse careers that exist in these sectors, ranging from warehouse managers to marine engineers to web designers.”
As both a community partner and an employer, Prologis is proud to continue to invest in Los Angeles and across Southern California to support job growth and economic opportunity with our modern logistics facilities. The CWI program is active in 15 markets, and we plan to establish new programs in additional key logistics markets in the United States and around the world in the near future.
For more information about Prologis’ CWI program, visit prologis.com/cwi.
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