Adecco talks: Sustainability jobs, 3PL industry trends, and employee burnout

Growing demand for sustainability jobs

During the first quarter of 2024 alone, over 10,000 US firms posted nearly 44,000 unique job ads for the cleantech industry.

Today’s top sustainability jobs for the green economy include:

• Environmental scientists
• Solar installers
• Carbon reduction engineers
• Sustainability experts

The need is growing – but these sustainability jobs require a blend of general technical skills and industry-specific knowledge in renewable energy systems, environmental science, and emerging technologies. For example, solar installers need both technical skills like solar energy systems installation and transferable skills like power tool operation and roofing.

The rise of sustainability jobs provides an opportunity for employers: Learn how manufacturers and automakers can use this to create a more inclusive workforce.

Today’s 3PL industry trends

Third-party logistics (3PL) companies navigate a complex and rapidly evolving business environment, shaped by a variety of macroeconomic and 3PL industry trends.

Economic landscape

Changes in the US economy and consumer spending can significantly impact demand. During periods of economic expansion, businesses tend to invest in inventory and transportation, which drives demand for 3PL services.

Shifts in consumer behavior

The rise of online shopping has significantly increased demand for 3PL services, particularly for last-mile delivery, warehousing, and fulfillment. Consumers expect fast and convenient delivery options, which require advanced logistics capabilities and flexible networks.

Technological advancements

3PLs are adopting automation and robotics to optimize picking, packing, and sorting processes, and to track goods and assets in real-time. This data can be used for inventory management, predictive maintenance, and optimized delivery routes.

Regulatory and policy changes

3PLs need to stay informed and adapt their operations accordingly to comply with trade policies and agreements, US labor laws and regulations, environmental policies, as well as data privacy and security regulations.

Labor market dynamics

3PLs must pay attention to the US labor market, wage inflation, and retention strategies. Investing in automation and robotics can help address labor shortages and increase productivity, but this requires upskilling workforces to operate and maintain these technologies.

Supply chain disruptions

From transportation delays to production shortages, global supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical events such as trade wars or natural disasters, the causes behind supply chain disruptions can affect 3PLs' ability to move goods efficiently, forcing 3PLs to develop more resilient and flexible strategies.

Communicating with employees to prevent burnout

The "right to disconnect" is becoming standard policy in some organizations, limiting after-hours communication between employers and their workers.

Stricter work hours can be crucial to keeping employees engaged and preventing burnout. Here are some strategies to improve workplace communication:

• Set clear boundaries: Define work hours and set emergency protocols for when your team needs after-hours communications
• Foster open communication: Set regular check-ins and provide feedback channels for workers
• Use collaboration tools: Use task management systems and scheduled communication to keep everyone on the same page

The "right to disconnect" is an increasingly important concept in today’s workplaces. Not only can it prevent burnout, but a strong work/life balance improves productivity and supports mental and physical health.

Learn how managers can lead by example to help prevent burnout.

Additional trends we saw last month

• Payrolls expanded by 142,000 during August, up from the revised 89,000 in July, but were below the 161,000 forecast from Dow Jones
• Average hourly earnings increased by 3.8% year-over-year in August, which was higher than the estimated 3.7%
• The labor force expanded by 120,000 for the month, helping push the jobless level down by 0.1 percentage point
• The labor force participation rate held at 62.7%

Get started today

Whether you need guidance addressing today’s problems, like employee burnout, or preparing for what’s ahead, like the green economy, Adecco is here to help.

Contact us today to get to work.