More gig economy drivers seeking permanent roles in logistics sector

DRIVERS drawn to the gig economy earlier in the pandemic are now looking for employee roles as the labour market improves, with many turning to the logistics sector – which is keen to welcome them.

The issue is that on the whole, the industry has a shortage of drivers, said Raymond Ong, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). “And the reality is that if someone offers me good money, I will go,” said Dr Ong. “If the (logistics) industry is hungry, they will increase the salary or revenue per trip for drivers to attract them to move over.”

E-commerce service provider J&T Express, for instance, has been ramping up hiring in preparation for the year-end shopping festivities.