The transport and logistics industry in Australia
Australia’s transport and logistics industry is a little-understood gem in our economic crown. Underpinning all other industries and every imaginable product and service, this dynamic and growing industry provides a wealth of exciting employment opportunities for graduates.
The Australian transport and logistics industry
A vital industry for Australia's economy
Why choose logistics?
The employment market
Salary information
Find out more
The Australian transport and logistics industry
It involves the planning, implementation and overseeing of the efficient forward and reverse movement and
storage of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption.
As a whole, the industry can be classified as comprising several distinct sectors, including: freight forwarders, road transportation, rail transportation, sea transportation, air transportation, and warehousing. Together, these sectors generate an enormous range of different jobs that support every business in Australia.
The industry is dynamic and ever changing. Intense competition within the industry serves as a catalyst for constant refinement and improvement of processes, procedures and technologies. The industry is also constantly evolving in response to factors like the changing global climate, new production process and technological advances.
A vital industry for Australia’s economy
Whether it be imported coffee beans from the far reaches of Kenya, or locally grown milk from a farm down the road, though many people don’t realise it, every imaginable product, service and industry is heavily underpinned by the transport and logistics industry.
Recent estimates put the industry's contribution to Australia’s GDP at around 14.5%, which makes it the single biggest and most significant contributor.
The effects of increasing globalisation, an increasingly mobile and culturally malleable workforce, and declining trade barriers mean that the transport and logistics industry enjoys strong growth.
Why choose logistics?
Apart from the huge range of diverse and interesting jobs and career paths available in this industry, there are a number of other benefits that make careers in transport and logistics an excellent option for graduates, for example:
- they provide broad and variable experience and skills that can be applied across a wide variety of jobs in different transport and logistics sectors, as well as broader business areas
- skills gained in the industry are transferable both nationally and internationally
- they provide great opportunities to travel and work overseas
- the employment opportunities and outlook, and potential salaries are excellent
The employment market
The industry currently contributes a huge number of jobs to the Australian economy — over 460,000, or around 4.6% of total employment in 2005–06 in over 165,000 businesses around the country. Current employment prospects for both graduates and established workers are strong. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ (DEEWR) Australian jobs 2008, supply and distribution managers have good current job prospects and can expect moderate future jobs growth.
Industry experts predict the Australian freight task will double in size by 2015. This growth is likely to significantly increase employment opportunities across the transport and logistics industry sectors, and continue the positive employment outlook for many years to come.
Salaries in the transport and logistics industry
The competitive salaries in this industry vary widely across the range of different roles, the industry sectors, and different states. Graduates entering the industry can generally expect to earn around $40,000. Depending on the industry sector and the specific role, very experienced candidates may earn up to and in excess of $150,000.
Find out more
Australian Logistics Council, www.austlogistics.com.au
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, www.cilta.com.au
Logistics Association of Australia, www.laa.asn.au
Logistics Information and Navigation Centre, www.the-linc.com.au
Transport and Logistics Centre (TALC), www.talc.com.au
Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, www.tlisc.com.au