On the Move

Transcription

On the Move

On the Move
Building Pathways to International Trade, Transportation and
Logistics Jobs in the Port-related Economy
September 2013
Acknowledgements
This study was prepared under contract with SkillUp
Washington with funding provided by the National Fund for
Workforce Solutions. For more information, visit their
websites at www.skillupwa.org and www.nfwsolutions.org.
Additional support was provided by the City of Seattle,
Office of Economic Development.
Port Jobs would like to give special thanks to the following
people for sharing their time, knowledge and connections:
•
Tom Green, Senior Manager, Air Cargo Operations
and Development, Port of Seattle
•
Dave Gering and Marilyn Young Skogland,
Manufacturing Industrial Council
•
The employers and stakeholders who participated
in interviews and meetings
Research and report writing assistance was provided by
Business, Government, Community Connections.
The cargo ship and airplane photographs on the front
cover are courtesy of Don Wilson, Port of Seattle.
For more information about Port Jobs, visit our websites:
www.portjobs.org
www.airportjobs.org
www.financialtoolsfortrades.org
Table of Contents
Executive Summary......................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
ITTL in King County.......................................................................................................................... 4
Research Methods .......................................................................................................................... 7
Key Findings .................................................................................................................................... 8
Next Steps ..................................................................................................................................... 28
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 32
Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 34
Appendix 1: Key Respondents and ITTL Events ........................................................................... 35
Appendix 2: Research Methodology Detail ................................................................................. 36
Appendix 3: Port Jobs International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) Reports ........... 43
Appendix 4: Selected Bibliography .............................................................................................. 44
Appendix 5: Labor Market Information for Selected ITTL Occupations (Seattle-King County) ... 45
Appendix 6: Sample Job Descriptions from Job Openings Scan (July 2013)................................ 46
Appendix 7: Outline for Airport University “Introduction to International Trade, Transportation
and Logistics” Course .................................................................................................................... 51
Executive Summary
International Trade is a vital part of Washington’s economy, with 40% of all jobs in the state
tied to the import and export of goods and services – from airplane parts and machinery to
food and medicines. Thousands of workers in King County are directly involved in moving these
goods, making up an industry broadly referred to as International Trade, Transportation and
Logistics (ITTL).
For 20 years, Port Jobs has played a significant role as an intermediary in assisting job seekers
and employers in port-related trade, transportation and travel. This study aims to deepen our
understanding of ITTL employment pathways and inform Port Jobs’ next steps efforts to
support the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda and a vibrant Port economy.
Through employer interviews, meetings with colleges and stakeholders involved in ITTL
initiatives, a job openings scan, and reviews of research and labor market data, Port Jobs found:
1. When hiring workers, ITTL employers value internal referrals, prior industry experience
and core basic skills.
2. Looming retirements, low turnover, and job growth may point to hiring challenges in the
ITTL sector in the future.
3. Many ITTL jobs offer self-sufficiency wages and career ladders.
4. ITTL certificate and degree programs are expanding, and coordination efforts among
workforce stakeholders are underway.
5. Port Jobs is well-positioned to serve the workforce needs of port-related ITTL
companies, particularly those in the air cargo sector.
In response to the research findings, Port Jobs plans to expand its ITTL work in four main areas:
1. Cultivate ITTL employer relationships and act as a conduit to ITTL jobs, with a deliberate
focus on air cargo.
2. Expand Airport University offerings to build pathways into ITTL careers, including the
development of a new Introduction to International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics
course.
3. Act as a conduit to ITTL certificate and degree programs at area colleges.
4. Coordinate ITTL system-building efforts with local workforce development entities.
1
Introduction
Take a look around. What do you see? Maybe a computer, a phone or a
television? Your favorite sweater, a pair of shoes or a backpack? Coffee, a
banana or a bowl of cherries? Chances are, these items were produced or
grown somewhere else across state, the country, or the world. Then they were
shipped – by boat, airplane, truck or train – to your neighborhood market or
right to your door.
International trade is a vital part of Washington
state’s economy. Recent research estimates that
40% of all jobs in Washington are tied to the import
and export of goods and services. 1 The industry
that moves all of those shoes and televisions and
cherries is broadly referred to as International
Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL). 2 ITTL
encompasses the planning, management,
movement, and distribution of goods by land, air,
rail, and sea. Or as one Chief Cargo Officer put it,
“We are the industry that links the factories on one
side of the world and shops on the other.” 3
ITTL Modes of Transport


Land
Air


Rail
Sea
Against this backdrop, for 20 years Port Jobs has
played a significant role as an intermediary in
assisting job seekers and employers in the Port-related trade, transportation, and travel
economy. During this time the mission of Port Jobs – to make good jobs easier to get and good
employees easier to find – has remained constant. Port Jobs’ programs like Airport Jobs and
Airport University help people find work and build transferable skills to advance in their
careers. They also enhance the competitiveness of Port-related companies by providing a
skilled and ready workforce.
1
Washington Council on International Trade & the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, An International
Competitiveness Strategy for Washington State, 2012.
2
This sector is referred to by several different names and definitions, such as: Transportation and Logistics;
Transportation and Warehousing; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
3
John McCurry, “Industry faces hard work to attract new blood,” Air Cargo World, March 15, 2013.
2
Port Jobs’ work also supports the Port of Seattle’s
Century Agenda, which includes strategies and
objectives to:
“Increase workforce training, jobs and business
opportunities for local communities in trade, travel
and business.”
“Position the Puget Sound Region as a premier
international logistics hub… including tripling air
cargo volume and growing seaport annual
container volume.” 4
Port Jobs ITTL Research
Port Jobs has done several studies on the ITTL sector.
The first, completed in 2006, looked at employment
and occupations found in the burgeoning ITTL sector.
Next Port Jobs explored college training programs
and career ladders in ITTL. Finally, Port Jobs did an
in-depth study of short-haul owner operator truck
drivers who move cargo in and out of Puget Sound
ports. 5
This study aims to deepen our understanding of ITTL
employment pathways and inform Port Jobs’ next
step expansion efforts to:
1) Support the current and emerging hiring needs
of Port-related ITTL employers, and
2) Prepare job seekers and incumbent workers to
pursue and advance in ITTL jobs.
In 2000, Port Jobs created Airport Jobs, a
centralized employment center at Sea-Tac
International Airport that connects job seekers
with openings at airport-related companies.
Three years later, Port Jobs launched Airport
University (AU), a partnership with Highline
Community College and the Seattle
Community College District.
AU offers credit-bearing college courses for
airport workers in business information
technology and customer service. Job skills
classes prepare new hires for security badging
(SIDA), airfield driving (AOA), and Washington
State Food Handlers Permit tests.
The appetite among employers, job seekers
and airport workers for Port Jobs’ services is
strong. In 2012:
 78 airport companies hired 1,088 Airport
Jobs clients, filling nearly 1,170 open
positions.
 234 people enrolled in AU’s onsite college
classes and jobs skills classes.
4
The Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda aims to add 100,000 jobs over the next 25 years through Port-led economic
growth. See: www.portseattle.org/about/commission/pages/century-agenda.aspx
5
See Appendix 3 for a listing of Port Jobs’ ITTL research.
3
ITTL in King County
Puget Sound airports and seaports help drive international trade, providing entry and exit
points for everything from cherries and apples to computers and machinery. In 2012,
steamship lines moved more than 1.8 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, also called
containers) of goods through the Port of Seattle seaport. 6 To put it into context, think about
this: A single 20-foot container can hold about 48,000 bananas. The containers on the back of
freight trucks are often 40-foot containers (or 2 TEUs), which can hold 12,000 shoeboxes. 7 At
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, another 283,500 metric tons of cargo – like airplane
parts, Copper River salmon, fruits and vegetables – flew through the region last year. 8
Photograph by Don Wilson/Port of Seattle
When freight moves from point A to point B, it may travel across several “modes” along the
supply chain. For example, shoes may arrive in Seattle by cargo ship, then be transported by
truck to a railroad, travel by rail to a transload facility in Chicago, and then be delivered by truck
to their final destination. A network of players makes this happen. Companies like steamship
lines, marine terminal operators, barge transportation companies, freight forwarders, trucking
6
Port of Seattle, Marine Terminal Information System. TEU, or twenty foot equivalent unit, is a standard unit of
measure in the shipping industry. It is equivalent to a container 20 feet long by 8 feet wide and 8 feet high.
7
Costamare, Inc, Container Facts, www.costamare.com.
8
Port of Seattle, 2012 Airport Statistics. www.portseattle.org
4
companies, third party logistics providers, warehouse and transload facilities, railroad
companies, ground handlers, airlines, and cargo security screeners. 9
Puget Sound Regional
Council estimates that
roughly 50,000 people
work in the ITTL sector
across the Central
Puget Sound region,
with nearly 35,700
people in King County.
The bulk of these jobs
are in trucking, air
transportation and
warehousing. Figure 1
shows that ITTL jobs
cluster along I-5 south
from Seattle to
Tacoma, with
concentrations near
Sea-Tac Airport. 11
Figure 1: ITTL Job Locations 10
ITTL workers help
move nearly $5.4
billion in agricultural
products and $7.6
billion of nonagricultural products
through the Port of
Seattle annually. 12
9
For a more detailed explanation of the intermodal freight system, see Port Jobs’ report “Big Rig, Short Haul: A
Study of Port Truckers in Seattle”. www.portjobs.org
10
Puget Sound Regional Council, Regional Economic Strategy for the Central Puget Sound Region: ECONOMY,
Adopted July 25, 2012. Reprinted with permission.
11
Ibid. Based on 2011 labor market data. The Central Puget Sound region includes King, Kitsap, Pierce, and
Snohomish Counties.
12
Port of Seattle, Export Cargo Statistics. http://www.portseattle.org/Cargo/SeaCargo/Pages/Exports.aspx
5
In the future, industrial property development near Sea-Tac Airport, such as the recently
announced Des Moines Creek Business Park, may lead to an increase in air cargo exports and a
corresponding increase in demand for workers.13 The Puget Sound Regional Council’s Regional
Economic Strategy states, “The greatest challenge confronting virtually all [industry] clusters is
access to a skilled workforce.” This is an opportune time to ensure that a ready and skilled
workforce is in place to meet the current and future needs of the ITTL industry.
13
Port of Seattle, Port of Seattle Selects Developer for 87 Acre Des Moines Creek Business Park,
http://www.portseattle.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/Pages/default.aspx?year=2013#381, June 14, 2013.
6
Research Methods
This report focuses on port-related ITTL employment opportunities that require an Associate’s
Degree or less and that support “landside” ITTL operations, such as dockworkers and material
handlers as opposed to “on board” positions such as captains, sailors or pilots. Port Jobs also
looked at the air cargo industry, which is a Port of Seattle Century Agenda priority, and at jobs
which contribute to Port of Seattle import and export gateways. In light of these priorities, Port
Jobs’ research methods fell into the following six areas:
ITTL Employer Interviews: Port Jobs interviewed 25 employers to gain insight into hiring needs,
entry requirements, desired certifications and degrees, and advancement opportunities.
Interviews were conducted in person at worksites, by phone, at job fairs, and by focus group.
Ten of the interviews were conducted in partnership with the Manufacturing Industrial Council,
a group which advocates for industrial businesses and for retaining family-wage jobs.
Companies represented freight forwarding, warehousing, trucking, air cargo, marine
transportation, customs brokerage, distribution centers, and short-line railroads, among others.
Stakeholder Meetings: Port Jobs met with stakeholders involved in local and regional ITTL
initiatives regarding their current employment, training, and research efforts. These
discussions were used to determine whether efforts could be better integrated and/or aligned
to support the ITTL sector and the entry and advancement of workers.
Job Openings Scan: Between July 15 and 19, 2013, Port Jobs did a scan of ITTL job openings in
King County that required an Associate’s Degree or less. This review was conducted to develop
a snapshot of available jobs and hiring requirements. Port Jobs searched 10 career websites and
100 company websites. Forty-seven (47) companies posted 84 jobs with an estimated 118
openings during the period.
Review of Labor Market Information: Labor market data from the Washington State
Employment Security Department (www.workforceexplorer.com) were collected for 12
occupations to identify projected employment, annual openings, growth, and hourly wages.
Port Jobs Client Data: Port Jobs client data were mined to gather selected demographic data
about the residence of people who visited and got jobs through the Airport Jobs center.
Review of local and national ITTL-focused research: ITTL research from across the United
States was reviewed to get a better understanding of ITTL workforce training, partnerships and
programs and effective practice.
See Appendix 2 for more detail regarding these research methods.
7
Key Findings
Port Jobs’ research identified several key findings related to entry and advancement into ITTL
careers, current opportunities for ITTL training, and needs for further coordination among
workforce development organizations working in the ITTL sector.
Key Findings
1. When hiring workers, employers value internal referrals, prior
industry experience and core basic skills
• Recruitment draws heavily from employee referrals and word of mouth
• Computer, customer service skills are among most important skill
• Requirements focus on prior experience
• Peak season ramp-up offers opportunities for temporary work and career
exposure
2. Looming retirements, low turnover, and job growth may point to
hiring challenges in the future
• Some positions are currently hard to fill
• Turnover in ITTL jobs tends to be low
• Some companies anticipate worker shortages
• ITTL jobs are growing
3. Many ITTL jobs offer self-sufficiency wages and career ladders
• Career ladders exist for people who build their skills and experience
4. ITTL training programs are expanding, and coordination efforts
among workforce stakeholders are underway
• College programs focused on ITTL have expanded
• Workforce development stakeholders are beginning to align efforts
5. Port Jobs is well-positioned to serve the workforce needs of portrelated ITTL companies, particularly those in the air cargo sector
8
1. When hiring workers, employers value internal referrals, prior industry
experience and key basic skills
When companies have job openings, most will advertise on their websites. Additionally, some
use career sites such as Indeed, Monster, Airportjobs, WorkSource and Craigslist to post ads.
Employer interviews revealed, however, that ITTL companies place a high value on applicants
that have been referred by employees or others in the industry. Seventy-five (75%) reported
that many of their new hires come from these sources. One employer commented, “One of the
best ways to get into the industry is by knowing someone.” This reliance on internal referral
networks can make it challenging for job seekers who want to enter the industry, but who do
not have these contacts. Some ITTL employers suggested that meeting face-to-face in a job fair
setting is a good way to start building connections. A handful of companies said that they use
temporary staffing agencies to ramp up their workforce during peak seasons, and may later
contact high performing temporary workers when new positions opened.
9
Several employers stated that they like to recruit veterans because of their discipline and strong
work ethic, and many have proven leadership skills. Also veterans often have heavy equipment
experience that can be transferrable to heavy diesel maintenance and mechanic jobs. Online
resources, such as the O*NET Code Connector and Military Crosswalk Search 14 can help
facilitate the crosswalk between military occupations to civilian jobs. For example, veterans
who worked as Transportation Management Coordinators (Army) or Logistics Specialists
(Marines) may transition into Cargo/Freight Agent positions. Veterans of higher rank, such as
Air Transportation Managers, may transition into supervisory or management roles within air
cargo companies.
Computer, customer service skills among most important for ITTL jobs
Basic industry knowledge – including terminology,
how the supply chain works, and modes of
transportation.
Figure 2: Air Export Agent Job
Description
Computer skills – particularly Microsoft Office
products and the ability to learn specialized
software programs, such as warehouse
management systems.
Job Tasks
Employer interviews and job descriptions (like the one in Figure 2) highlighted basic knowledge
and skills that workers need for entry- to mid-level ITTL jobs. 15 These include:
Written/verbal communication skills – including
business writing and email etiquette. Some
employers mentioned the need to
read/write/speak the English language.
• Answer phone; Review and answer
correspondence
• Prepare reports
• Compile, store and retrieve data using computer
• May be responsible for special shipments
involving perishables (e.g., live sea urchins)
• High School Diploma/GED
Requirements
Customer service skills – which are critical in this
customer-focused, fast-paced environment.
• Handle all air export administration, e.g.,
develop air rates, air waybills, air service and
work instructions
• 3-5 years of experience
• Word, Excel, Outlook
• Fast/accurate data entry skills
• Subject to background check and drug screen
• Good spelling, grammar, writing, punctuation
• Strong customer service skills/experience
• Excellent phone etiquette
Basic math skills – often cited in dockworker, shipping/receiving and fueling jobs. Many office
jobs require math skills for such tasks as calculating freight pricing or compiling quotes.
14
www.onetcodeconnector.org and www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC
This echoes findings from other ITTL workforce research, including Port Jobs’ report Logistics and International
Trade: Career Ladders and Training Programs in an Evolving Sector, South Seattle Community College ITTL DACUM
research, and Dena Horton, Clark College, Freight Mobility Workforce Issues, Trends, and Recommendations for the
Transportation Industry in the Pacific Northwest.
15
10
Employers also described qualities that made people well-suited for careers in ITTL:
•
The ability to be agile and solve problems in different transportation modalities and
logistics venues. This was echoed by a chief cargo officer, who said that companies
“needed a tough, alert, versatile workforce that could deal with anything from Icelandic
eruptions and Japanese tsunamis to political upheavals, economic crises and
environmental concerns.” 16
•
The ability to learn the company’s “way of doing things”. Twenty four percent (24%) of
the employers interviewed said that they had their own internal training programs and
wanted new workers to learn their company’s processes and methods, regardless of
how much prior experience they may have. Said one customs brokerage, “We train to
fill the role.”
•
Twenty-seven percent (27%) of job listings indicated that applicants must pass drug
screening and/or background checks. These are particularly common in truck driving
jobs, airport jobs, warehouse, and cargo handling positions.
See Appendix 6 for detailed job tasks and requirements for 11 ITTL job postings.
Rail yard
16
McCurry, “Industry faces hard work to attract new blood”.
11
Entry requirements focus heavily on prior experience
When hiring new workers, ITTL companies value prior industry experience. Seventy (70%) of
employers interviewed said they did not look for particular certificates or degrees, but instead
looked for people with experience in a related industry or job function, such as work in a
warehouse. The vast majority of job openings reviewed (73%) indicated that previous industry
experience was preferred or required; for example, 3 to 6 months for freight handlers and up to
a year for warehouse jobs. Office occupations like export agents often required 2 to 4 years of
experience in freight forwarding, transportation, logistics, or supply chain. Management
positions, like Warehouse and Export Managers, generally required five or more years of
industry and supervisory experience. In some positions prior experience was interchangeable
with higher education.
Most of the jobs reviewed in the job openings scan required only a high school diploma or GED.
While certificates and degrees may not be required, in some cases they are preferred. Also
employers noted that having a degree showed that the candidate had dedication and
commitment. Also if “all other things were equal”, a candidate who had earned a relevant
certificate might be more likely to be hired because she demonstrated an interest in working in
the field. For advancement to higher-level “supply chain management” positions, an advanced
degree is often required.
Many employers indicated that they don’t require warehouse applicants to have forklift
certification. Employers must certify that all employees can safely operate company forklifts
regardless of whether they have prior certification. Job openings show, however, that most
warehouse and freight handling positions prefer candidates that have forklift experience. Job
seekers who want to enter these kinds of jobs, but who have had no prior experience, may
benefit from taking a forklift certification class through a community college. This may give
them a ‘leg up’ in the hiring process, as might other industry-specific certifications such as
Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods training.
Peak season ramp-up offers opportunities for temporary work and career exposure
Several companies reported that they “ramped up” their workforce during busy seasons, such
as the summer cherry harvest or Chinese New Year, by hiring temporary workers or “casuals”.
For example, a freight forwarder estimated that the company increases its freight handling and
warehousing workforce by 20-30% at peak times. Similarly a marine transportation company
nearly doubles its workforce during its busy season. Temporary workers are then laid-off at the
end of the season. Some employers commented that temporary positions such as warehouse
agents, dockworkers or “box preppers” provide a good training ground to build experience in
the industry. Companies may later call back high performing temporary workers when new
positions open.
12
2. Looming retirements, low turnover, and job growth may point to hiring
challenges in the future
Eighty percent (80%) of the employers interviewed expressed minimal difficulty finding entry
level workers for freight handling and warehouse types of positions. Some companies did have
challenges filling specialized positions, however. For example, trucking companies had trouble
finding qualified Truck Drivers with Class A Commercial Drivers’ Licenses, particularly for longhaul and cross-border driving. Challenges included finding people who can pass strict drug
tests, who have good driving records, and who have the requisite driving experience. One
company, for example, said that its insurance policy required drivers to have at least three
years of truck driving experience, which limited the pool of candidates since few newlygraduating truck driver students qualified. 17
Other companies, particularly marine transportation and trucking companies, had trouble
finding skilled tradespeople to do maintenance and repair work on everything from containers,
forklifts, chassis, and refrigeration units to industrial machinery and diesel engines. Employers
mentioned jobs titles such as Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Heavy Machinery Diesel Mechanic,
and Ground Service Equipment (GSE) mechanic.
Long-haul truck drivers are in demand according to our local employer interviews
17
Additional challenges in truck driver recruitment were identified in the report Freight Mobility Workforce Issues,
Trends, and Recommendations for the Transportation Industry in the Pacific Northwest (2005).
13
Turnover in ITTL jobs tends to be low
Employer interviews suggest that once a person is established in the industry, turnover tends to
be low. Thirty-five (35%) of employers stated that turnover is low and that longevity within
companies was common. For example, one barge company said that many employees had
worked there for 15 years or more. A freight forwarder found that turnover was particularly
low once an employee had been with the company for three years. Another employer
suggested that turnover was low because of its rigorous hiring process, and because many
employees were hired through employee referrals or were temporary workers that had been
“called back”.
Some companies anticipate worker shortages
Some companies noted that their workforce is aging, and while they may not have trouble
filling entry-level positions today, retirements were on the horizon. “Warehouse retirements
are coming,” said one human resources manager. Others noted that as their dockworkers
aged, young people were not coming in to fill new positions. Some companies were starting to
bring in personnel in anticipation of retirements in order to build expertise through training and
informal mentoring.
ITTL occupations are growing
At the same time, labor market information points to growth in ITTL jobs. Port Jobs reviewed 12
ITTL occupations, which together make up nearly half of the employment in the ITTL sector.
These are shown in Figure 3.
Together these occupations are projected to grow at a somewhat faster rate than all
occupations in King County (2.2% annually, compared to 1.9% respectively), increasing from
18,500 workers in 2011, to more than 20,500 by 2016. Cargo/Freight Agents are expected to
grow the fastest at 3.2% annual growth. With growth and attrition, ITTL employers will need to
fill an estimated total of 850 openings each year for these positions (2011-2016). 18
18
See Appendix 2 for labor market methodology and Appendix 5 for a table of employment projections and annual
growth by occupation.
14
Figure 3: Estimated Employment in 12 ITTL Occupations (2011 and 2016) and Demand 19
Industrial Machinery Mechanics ↑
First-Line Supervisors of Material Movers↑
Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers ↔
First-Line Supvrs. - Office/Admin Support Workers ↓
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks ↓
Customer Service Representatives ↑
Cargo and Freight Agents ↑
First Line Supvrs. - Material Moving Vehicle Operators ↓
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators ↔
Light Truck or Delivery Service Drivers ↓
Laborers and Freight/Material Movers ↑
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer ↑
0
Est. 2011 employment in ITTL
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
Est. 2016 employment in ITTL
The chart shows that:
•
Truck Drivers (heavy) and Freight/Material Movers make up nearly half of the
employment in these occupations, and are considered to be “in demand”. The need for
truck drivers was echoed by employers above.
•
Administrative positions like Cargo/Freight Agents and Customer Service Agents, while
much smaller by comparison, are also “in demand” occupations.
•
Industrial machinery mechanics make up the smallest portion of ITTL employment
among these occupations, though these jobs are also “in demand”.
•
Some supervisor positions, including those that supervisor material moving vehicle
operators and office/administrative support workers, are considered “not in demand”,
yet they are growing occupations.
19
Washington State Employment Security Department, 2013 occupational employment and wage estimates
(Seattle/Bellevue/Everett Metropolitan Division), www.workforceexplorer.com. Local workforce development
councils categorize occupations as in demand ↑ (more job openings in future), balanced ↔ (job openings will
remain about the same) or not in demand ↓ (fewer job openings).
15
The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County identified ITTL occupations that
may have a shortage of workers by 2019, and these include Freight/Material Movers, Industrial
Tractor Operators (forklift), Supervisors of Freight/Material Movers, and Supervisors of Material
Moving Machine Operators. 20 Some of these positions are the same ones that are currently
considered balanced or not in demand.
These findings – looming retirements, low turnover, and job growth – coupled with an
improving economy, point to potential challenges for the ITTL industry as seasoned employees
retire, and companies have fewer workers ready to step up and take their places. It will be
critical to track these issues and get ongoing feedback from ITTL employers about their
emerging hiring needs.
Photograph by Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women
20
Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and Community Attributes, Talent Pipeline Study for
Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, August 2011.
16
3. Many ITTL job pathways offer self-sufficiency wages and career ladders
There are a variety of job pathways in ITTL. Figure 4 shows a sampling of some of the job
functions and titles found within the sector. They include those commonly associated with ITTL,
such as truck driving or freight handling and warehouse work. Similar positions focus on
inventory control and shipping/receiving and are often seen in distribution centers for retailers
like Costco or at manufacturing companies. Customer service positions are found across many
different industries, while import/export positions focus specifically on documentation and
coordination for shipments entering or leaving the country. As new security rules have been
enacted, security and cargo screening jobs have emerged. Finally trades-related positions
maintain and repair the cargo handling equipment, containers, and trucks, and fuel airplanes.
Type of Job
Figure 4: Types of ITTL Jobs and Sample Job Titles 21
Warehouse /
Freight
Handling
Import/
Export
Cargo Handler
Air Export
Agent
Sample Job Titles
Ramp Agent
Dockworker
Material
Handler
Customs
House
Brokerage
Agent
Forklift Driver
Air Import
Breakbulk
Agent
Warehouse
Associate
Ocean Import
Agent
Customer
Service /
Administrative
Inventory/
Shipping/
Receiving
Transportation
/Warehouse
Management
Logistics
Support
Specialist
Return to
Vendor (RTV)
Clerk
Dock
`
Supervisor
Customer
Service Agent
Customer
Service Rep Ocean Export
Shipping and
Receiving
Specialist
Receiving
Appointment
Clerk
Logistics
Supervisor
Ramp
Supervisor
Warehouse
Manager
Truck Driving
Over-the-Road
Driver
CDL Class A
Driver
Delivery Driver
Maintenance /
Repair
Fueler
Security /
Cargo
Screening
Lead Fueler
Cargo Aircraft
Screener
Ground Service
Equipment
Mechanic
Security
Coordinator
Many jobs pay self-sufficiency wages
The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Seattle-King County estimates how much a person or family
must earn to cover basic living expenses without additional subsidies. In Seattle, for example, a
single individual needs to work full-time earning $10.62 per hour to be “self-sufficient”; by
comparison for a family of four (two adults, a preschooler, and a grade school student), both
parents need to earn $14.58 per hour. 22
21
22
From Port Jobs’ job openings scan, July 15-19, 2013.
The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State, www.thecalculator.org
17
A review of hourly wages for 12 ITTL occupations suggests that, depending on a family’s size,
ITTL positions can pay self-sufficiency wages. Figure 5 shows that at the 25th percentile 23,
wages range from $11.06 per hour for Freight/Material Movers to $36.58 per hour for
Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers. Seven of the 12 occupations pay between
$12 and $19 per hour.
Figure 5: Hourly wages for Selected ITTL Occupations (25th percentile) 24
$40.00
$36.58
$35.00
$30.00
$23.24
$25.00
$20.00
$22.12
$21.85
$18.80
$18.37
$15.00
$16.52
$14.48
$14.32
$13.55
$12.58
$11.06
$10.00
$5.00
$0.00
Transp.,
Industrial Supervisors, Supervisors, Supervisors,
Distribution Machinery
Vehicle Office/Admin Material
Movers
Mgrs
Mechanics operators
Support
Workers
Truck
Drivers,
Heavy
Cargo &
Industrial
Freight Agent Tractor
Operators
Customer
Service Rep
Shipping,
Receiving
Clerks
Delivery
Service
Drivers
Freight &
Material
Movers,
Hand
Career ladders exist for people who build their skills and experience
Eighty-two percent (82%) of employers noted that there are opportunities to advance to
supervisory level positions within their companies. A typical entry-level next step job is a
“lead”, which manages a small group of front-line staff. For example, in an air cargo company,
a person can move from Cargo Agent, to Lead Cargo Agent where she manages five workers, to
a Supervisor who manages both agents and leads. Other examples found in a scan of job
openings included Warehouse Worker to Lead; Logistics Coordinator to Logistics Supervisor;
and Ocean Export Agent to Ocean Export Supervisor. While companies provide training to new
workers to show them the company’s “way of doing things”, entry-level supervisory training is
often lacking. One air cargo general manager noted that internal management training often
focuses on upper-level company leaders, and not on front-line workers.
23
th
25 percentile wages are on the lower end of the wages paid in a particular occupation; whereby, 25% of
workers earn below this wage, and the remaining 75% of workers earn above this amount. Port Jobs selected this
percentile as a conservative snapshot of what workers in these occupations earn.
24
WA Employment Security Department, 2013 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates,
th
Seattle/Bellevue/Everett Metropolitan Division, 25 percentile.
18
In other ITTL settings, workers can advance to higher skilled positions as they gain experience in
using more specialized equipment. For example, in one “cross-doc” facility, a worker could
start as a Laborer earning $12 per hour. After 6 months of forklift training, she can advance to
Forklift Driver earning $15 per hour. As a Forklift Driver she can progress to equipment that
lifts increasingly heavy loads (for example, from 6,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds). After several
years of experience, she may advance to Barge Loader where she can earn upwards of $30 per
hour.
From here, select people with strong computer, math and communication skills and good work
performance could eventually move into higher-level management jobs within the company or
move to a larger company. For example, one short-line railroad company said that workers
with more experience (e.g. engineers) sometimes move to larger railroads like BNSF for higher
pay or more hours because there are very few local jobs.
Having an understanding of the full supply chain can help facilitate career mobility. In many
ITTL companies there are office, warehouse, customer service and freight forwarding sides to
the business, suggesting that job seekers who understand the supply chain will be better
positioned to know where their own skills, interests and abilities fit. Additionally ITTL
companies often hire from within. UPS, for example, is well known for promoting employees,
with 90% of workers starting in the warehouse.25 Other smaller companies that we interviewed
echoed this practice.
Warehouse dock doors
25
Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management Skills Gap Forum. March 2013.
19
Figure 6 shows sample career paths within a multi-national transportation and logistics
company, suggesting that as workers gain experience in different parts of the company, they
can move in several different directions.
Figure 6: Sample Career Paths – Transportation and Logistics Company26
26
Adapted from Educational Data Systems Inc., Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Center Final
Report and Business Assessment Summary, December 2010.
20
4. ITTL training programs are expanding, and coordination efforts among
workforce stakeholders are underway
In 2008, Port Jobs did a review of 19 ITTL training programs nationwide, six of which were in the
Seattle area. What we found was an industry that was just beginning to emerge as an
employment sector, and training programs that were relatively new. 27 Since then, there has
been an increasing focus on the ITTL sector among colleges and workforce development
organizations. ITTL offerings at Puget Sound area colleges and universities have grown and
changed, with several new or revamped programs launching in 2013. For example,
•
North Seattle Community College reintroduced its International Trade certificate in
January 2013. In September 2013, it launched a new Bachelor of Applied Science
degree in International Business, the college’s first BA program.
•
In 2011, the University of Washington (UW) closed its program in Global Trade,
Transportation and Logistics studies due to budgetary constraints. In September 2013,
UW launched an online Master of Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics program.
•
South Seattle Community College (SSCC) offered a 19-credit Transportation, Logistics
and Supply Chain Management certificate in 2009 and 2010; however this certificate is
no longer available. SSCC is currently developing a certificate program to prepare
students for Global Logistics Associate certification through the American Society of
Transportation & Logistics.
•
Highline Community College and the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply
Chain Management partnered to offer non-credit Customs Broker Preparation and
Fundamentals of Importing courses.
Figure 7 shows the locations of eight colleges currently offering ITTL coursework in the Puget
Sound area, including the specific certificate and degree programs offered by each. Additionally
it shows the people who have gotten jobs through Airport Jobs, by their home zip code. ITTL
certificate and degree programs allow job seekers and incumbent workers to build skills for
entry and advancement in the ITTL sector. Port Jobs can act as a connector to link incumbent
workers interested in furthering their ITTL careers with local ITTL training programs.
Reciprocally, there is an opportunity for Port Jobs to connect graduates of these programs to
ITTL jobs in the port-related economy.
27
Port Jobs Logistics and International Trade: Career Ladders and Training Programs in an Evolving Sector. 2008.
The list of programs reviewed was not exhaustive of those in the Puget Sound area or nationwide.
21
Figure 7
Airport Jobs Visitors Who Were Hired and their Proximity to Colleges with
International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics Certificate and Degree Programs
Several colleges in the Puget Sound area offer certificate
and degree programs in International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) that can help workers build skills
to advance in a variety of ITTL career pathways. This
map shows the number of people who got jobs through
Port Jobs’ Airport Jobs center by their home zip codes
(between 2004 and 2012) and their proximity to community/technical colleges and universities that offer ITTL
certificates and degrees. This box also lists each college’s
ITTL-specific programs:
Shoreline Community College
- Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
(Certificate of Proficiency OR Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences)
Shoreline Community College
North Seattle Community College
North Seattle Community College
University of Washington
- International Trade (Certificate)
- International Business (Bachelor of Applied Science)
University of Washington
SEATTLE
South Seattle Community College
- Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics
- Global Logistics Associate (Certificate)
- Hospitality Management (Bachelor of Applied Science)
✈
Highline Community College
Highline Community College
- Custom Broker Exam Prep (Non-credit course)
- Fundamentals of Importing (Non-credit course)
- International Business and Trade (Certificate)
- International Business and Trade (Associate in Applied Science)
Green River Community College
Green River Community College
Bates Technical College
Tacoma Community College
TACOMA
- Forklift Operation
- Certified Logistics Associate
- Certified Logistics Technician
- Aircraft Dispatcher (Certificate)
- Air Transportation (Associate in Applied Science)
- Aviation Technology (Associate in Applied Science ) in one of the
following: Air Traffic Control, Aircraft Dispatch,
Professional Pilot, Helicopter Pilot
Job Seekers Hired
by Zip Code
1 - 23
24 - 79
Bates Technical College
80 - 214
- Commercial Truck Driving
215 - 487
Tacoma Community College
488 - 774
- General Warehouse Clerk (Certificate)
- Global Transportation and Secure Logistics (Certificate)
- Business with Global Logistics Concentration
775 - 1349
✈
(Associate in Applied Science)
*Data Source: PortJobs, Washington Geospatial Portal
0
Airport Jobs
Center
10

20 Miles
Workforce development stakeholders are beginning to align efforts in ITTL sector
Stakeholder interviews underscored the need for workforce development and college entities
working in ITTL to continually connect to ensure that their employer engagement, training and
placement practices are well coordinated and communicated. Alignment efforts are underway.
Port Jobs is part of Pathways to Careers (P2C), a multi-stakeholder partnership initiated by City
of Seattle. P2C aims to align certificate and degree programs in the Seattle Community College
District and to increase the number of people completing certificates and degrees in four target
sectors, including ITTL. 28
It is evident, especially due to the wide range of ITTL employers and jobs pathways, that crosssystem resource sharing, such as labor market information, reports, and training referrals, is
integral to seeing where workforce system stakeholders (e.g., Pathways to Careers,
WorkSource, community colleges, workforce intermediaries, and employer groups) may need
to better aligned. P2C partners expressed interest, for example, in developing common
employer engagement tools to better coordinate employer engagement efforts. This could
include, for example, using a common employer engagement tracking system, such as the City
of Seattle’s Executive Pulse database. These and other alignment efforts are critical. The
workforce development system’s ability to anticipate and address the diverse needs of ITTL
employers and their workforce directly affects the region’s economic health and
competiveness.
28
P2C target sectors include ITTL, Business Information Technology, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.
23
5. Port Jobs is well-positioned to serve the workforce needs of port-related ITTL
companies, particularly those in the air cargo sector
The Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda has a goal of tripling air cargo volume over the next 25
years, which would generate new cargo-related jobs in the region. Port Jobs has placed more
than 100 people into cargo-related jobs at Sea-Tac Airport since 2012, primarily with airlines,
ground handling companies that sub-contract with some airlines to do cargo handling, and
security positions. 29
Airlines and airports are one part of the air cargo supply chain. The sector also includes
companies that support the movement of cargo to and from the airport. For example, SeattleTacoma Air Cargo Association (STACA) membership includes companies that do freight
forwarding, trucking, cargo screening, and customs brokerage. Federal agencies such as U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
also participate to ensure the security and legitimacy of cargo entering the U.S. Figure 9
provides a simplified overview of the players involved in moving air cargo between airports,
from the shipper to the final destination. Port Jobs’ long-term presence at Sea-Tac Airport
makes it well-positioned to reach out to the broader spectrum of air cargo companies in King
County.
29
Port Jobs, Airport Jobs placement data, January 1, 2012 – August 30, 2013.
24
Figure 9: Players Involved In Air Cargo 30
30
Adapted from J. Petersen, Air Freight Industry White Paper, The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, H. Milton
Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, April 1, 2007.
25
Air cargo is virtually hidden as it is shipped either in the “belly” of passenger airplanes or in cargo
freighters. As a result, people are often unaware of air cargo and of the job opportunities in the
sector. As one cargo vice-president said, “There’s an industry-wide problem of getting people to
understand that cargo exists. They have no thought of career opportunities. We need to start there,
and find a way of connecting with career talent in that way.” 31 As one response, the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) has launched a promotional campaign called “Air Cargo Makes It
Happen”, with the goal of raising awareness of how air cargo affects lives, from delivering vaccines
and emergency supplies to shipping everyday items like electronics and flowers. See sample ads in
Figure 10. These findings also point to a need to educate job seekers and others about the kinds of
job opportunities in this sector.
Figure 10: Sample Ads from Air Cargo Promotional Campaign
©International Air Transport Association
Most airports have peak seasons during fall and Christmastime. Sea-Tac Airport is somewhat
unique in that its peak season is during the summer. Sweet cherries are one the most popular
air cargo exports in our region; nearly 8,900 metric tons were shipped through Sea-Tac Airport
in 2012.
31
McCurry, “Industry faces hard work to attract new blood”.
26
During cherry season (June to August) freighter capacity at the airport more than doubles to
accommodate cherry shipments 32, and staffing levels among air cargo companies also increase.
Like other ITTL sectors, there are opportunities to connect job seekers to temporary work
during peak season, thereby increasing their awareness of and experience in the industry.
Finally, air cargo is document intensive. Upwards of 18 documents are processed for every air
cargo shipment, and currently most of these documents are processed in hard copy. IATA is
encouraging the sector to move toward electronic documentation, starting with electronic air
waybills. This movement will likely require air cargo workers to have more computer skills in
the future.
Loading air cargo
32
Port of Seattle, Central & Eastern Washington Export & Tourism Roundtable Forums and Tour Briefing Book,
2013.
27
Next Steps
The research presented in this report has already begun to influence Port Jobs partnerships and
investments in ITTL. The National Fund for Workforce Solutions featured Port Jobs’ interim ITTL
research and Airport Jobs/Airport University video at the national Atlanta conference of
workforce collaboratives in June 2013. In addition, Port Jobs has joined the Seattle-Tacoma Air
Cargo Association (STACA), and is investing time and resources to thoroughly understand and
identify how best to engage and support these employers. Other opportunities for Port Jobs to
support the competitiveness of port-related companies are on the horizon.
In response to the research findings, Port Jobs will expand its ITTL work in four main areas:
1. Cultivate ITTL Employer Relationships and Act as a Conduit to ITTL Jobs
Port Jobs will work to continuously and deeply engage employers in the ITTL sector, while
raising awareness among job seekers and incumbent workers about job pathways and
opportunities in ITTL. Our goal, through the following efforts, is to act as a connector between
job seekers and ITTL employers. Port Jobs will:
(1) Begin expansion of employer services to a broader range of port-related ITTL employers
(e.g. posting job openings, reaching out to and referring job seekers, and/or facilitating
hiring events, etc.). In support of the Port of Seattle Century Agenda and given the
Airport Jobs location at Sea-Tac Airport, Port Jobs will do intensive outreach to
employers in the air cargo sector. This will include working with companies doing
business onsite at Sea-Tac Airport, as well as cultivating relationships with air cargorelated companies offsite. Port Jobs will also ensure that air cargo companies are aware
of the college courses offered through Airport University. For example, Airport
University’s business technology classes offer an opportunity to skill up the air cargo
workforce as it moves toward electronic document processing.
(2) Work with ITTL companies to help fill temporary, seasonal positions, which will allow
people to gain experience in the ITTL sector and can lead to permanent employment.
(3) Invite ITTL employers to do on site recruiting at the Airport Jobs office.
(4) Highlight ITTL job openings on the Airport Jobs website (which was viewed last year by
more than 140,000 people) and Port Jobs’ Facebook page (which currently has more
than 250 “likes”). Additionally, Port Jobs will add an ITTL page to our Port Jobs’ website
including career pathways, local college programs, and industry-related links.
28
(5) Implement ongoing outreach and communication strategies necessary to develop new
ITTL employer relationships. This includes becoming a fully embedded member of
organizations such as the Seattle Tacoma Air Cargo Association (STACA) to connect with
employers and stay abreast of industry trends and needs.
(6) Serve as a conduit to ITTL jobs for jobs seekers visiting the Airport Jobs office, and reach
out to other populations, including:
•
Community college ITTL graduates to facilitate employment into ITTL jobs,
•
Secondary school programs such as the Job Skills Program at the Center for
Wooden Boats, and Core Plus Manufacturing Program, sponsored by the
Manufacturing Industrial Council, and invite their students to learn about ITTL
training and job opportunities, and
•
Veterans to utilize military crosswalk resources that help them apply their
previous logistics experience earned in the military to civilian ITTL careers.
Currently, nearly 200 veterans visit the Airport Jobs center each year.
2. Expand Airport University Offerings to Include ITTL Courses
Airport University currently offers a series of computer
and customer service classes for incumbent workers. See
side box. These courses build core skills that align with
those identified earlier by ITTL employers. An airport
worker can now earn a 15-credit Business Technology
certificate from Highline Community College, all by taking
classes at the airport.
In an effort to engage more incumbent workers with next
step ITTL jobs, Port Jobs will:
Current Airport University Credit
Courses
10-Key Mastery
Keyboarding
Microsoft Office 2010
SuperHost Customer Service
Introduction to the Computer
Introduction to the Internet
College 100
(1) Offer a new Introduction to International Trade, Transportation and Logistics course
through Airport University. Port Jobs has contracted with a consultant, who was formerly
the director of a graduate program in Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics, to
develop this course. The course will provide students with a strong foundation in the ITTL
fundamentals identified in employer interviews. It will include an overview of world trade
systems, basic ITTL terminology, and modes of transportation, including a focus on air
cargo. In addition, students will learn about careers in ITTL and community college
29
programs that offer ITTL certificate and degree programs. The class will be part of the
Airport University 2014 course offerings. See Appendix 7 for a topic outline.
(2) Work with an area community college to reinstate a “Leadership and Supervision” class at
Airport University. This class was offered at one time through Airport University and was
well-attended. The Leadership and Supervision class will target entry-level workers who
currently work in supervisory positions, as well as front-line staff who wish to move up to
lead positions. This class will help build tomorrow’s leaders, which will be especially
critical as the current ITTL workforce begins to retire.
Airport University students
3. Act as a Conduit to ITTL Training at Area Colleges
Port Jobs will raise awareness and connect job seekers and incumbent workers, including
Airport University students, to ITTL training programs that can build their skills and further their
careers in the industry. Port Jobs will:
(1) Seek funding to support an on-site navigator at Airport University to connect job seekers
and incumbent workers to the different courses, certifications, and degree programs
available.
(2) Post ITTL college training and course listings in the Airport Jobs office and distribute them
to port-related employers.
30
(3) Highlight ITTL college training programs on the Port Jobs and Airport Jobs websites, and
Facebook page.
(4) Invite community college partners to provide onsite ITTL recruitment.
(5) Inform Airport University students about ITTL college training opportunities and build ITTL
into current course offerings, as appropriate. Port Jobs has begun to do this, for example,
through “College 100”. In summer quarter 2013, we brought in a guest speaker to
present about ITTL and local college programs.
4. Coordinate ITTL System-building Efforts with Local Workforce Development
Entities
Port Jobs will continue to engage with workforce stakeholders engaged in ITTL to ensure that
our region has a coordinated ITTL workforce system that is meeting the current and future
needs of ITTL employers and workers. Efforts will include:
(1) Continuing alignment efforts already begun through Pathways to Careers.
(2) Creating a Dropbox repository for workforce stakeholders to share ITTL reports, research,
labor market and related information.
31
(3) Bringing together representatives of ITTL college programs to discuss service
coordination, career pathways and placement opportunities. This convening will also
serve as a venue for discussing the need for cross-system employer engagement tools.
(4) Participating in further research with workforce stakeholders about the scale of need and
potential strategies to assist employers in finding workers for “hard to hire” positions,
such as truck drivers and industrial maintenance/mechanics.
Conclusion
As one of the most trade-dependent states in the country, a large percentage of jobs in
Washington are tied to international trade. Thousands of workers in King County are directly
involved in the movement of goods that we rely upon everyday – from food on our tables to
medicines that treat illnesses. It is critical that a ready and skilled workforce is in place to keep
these goods flowing.
There is an increased focus among workforce stakeholders, colleges, and local government on
the employment and training needs of the ITTL sector. Port Jobs is ready to support the
workforce needs of this important engine of the local economy. The strategies identified
through our research present an exciting opportunity for Port Jobs and reflect our aims to
contribute to the development of a well-trained and skilled ITTL workforce and a vibrant Port
economy.
32
33
Appendices
Appendix 1:
Key Respondents and ITTL Event Participation
Appendix 2:
Research Methodology Detail
Appendix 3:
Port Jobs International Trade, Transportation and Logistics Reports
Appendix 4:
Selected Bibliography
Appendix 5:
Labor Market Information for Selected ITTL Occupations (Seattle-King County)
Appendix 6:
Sample Job Descriptions from Job Openings Scan, July 2013
Appendix 7:
Outline from Airport University “Introduction to International Trade,
Transportation and Logistics” Course
34
Appendix 1: Key Respondents and ITTL Events
Key respondents
Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management
City of Seattle Office of Economic Development
Greg Shelton, Consultant
Manufacturing Industrial Council
Pacific Associates
Pathways to Careers
Port of Seattle – Air Cargo Operations and Development
Seattle Jobs Initiative
Seattle-Tacoma Air Cargo Association members
Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle
ITTL Event Participation
Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management Skills Gap Forum
Worksource Transportation and Logistics Job Fair and Employer Panel
Maritime Career Fair
35
Appendix 2: Research Methodology Detail
This Appendix provides more detail on the six research methods used in this report.
ITTL Employer Interviews: Port Jobs interviewed 25 employers, using a variety approaches. Ten
(10) interviews were conducted in partnership with the Manufacturing Industrial Council (MIC),
a group which advocates for industrial businesses and has a commitment to retaining familywage jobs and preparing young people for industrial careers. The remaining 15 ITTL employer
interviews were conducted by phone, at job fairs, through focus group, and/or on site at
employer worksites. In total, the companies represented include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Freight forwarding
Trucking
Warehouse/transload/cold storage
Air cargo
Railroad (short-line)
Marine transportation
•
•
•
•
•
Retail-distribution center
Customs brokerage
Ship repair
Marine terminal operator
Cargo screening
Note that responses provide insight about the needs of selected ITTL employers and are not
conclusive, due to the limited size of the interview pool. In an effort to mitigate this data
limitation, Port Jobs used several data sources, outlined here, including a comprehensive scan
of employer job descriptions. By looking at all of these sources in tandem Port Jobs was able to
develop a deeper and broader understanding of ITTL hiring and advancement opportunities in
the areas identified as priorities.
Stakeholder Meetings: Port Jobs met with several stakeholders involved in local and regional
ITTL efforts regarding their current employment, training, and research efforts. These
discussions were used to determine whether efforts could be better integrated and/or aligned
to support the ITTL sector and the entry and advancement of workers in this field.
Interviews included the Port of Seattle, Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain
Management, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, Pathways to Careers, South
Seattle Community College, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Seattle Jobs
Initiative, and Pacific Associates.
In addition, Port Jobs participated in several ITTL events, including the Center of Excellence for
Global Trade and Supply Chain Management Skills Gap Forum, WorkSource Transportation and
Logistics Job Fair and Employer Panel, and Maritime Career Fair.
36
Job Openings Scan: During the week of July 15-19, 2013, Port Jobs did a scan of ITTL job
openings in King County that required an Associate’s Degree or less. This review was conducted
to develop a snapshot of the types of job openings available and hiring requirements. Port Jobs
searched 10 career websites including: Airport Jobs, Beyond.com, Council of Supply Chain
Management Professionals, Indeed.com, JobsinLogistics, Monster.com, Port of Seattle,
Simplyhired.com, Warehouse Education and Research Council, and WorkSource. In addition,
Port Jobs reviewed 100 company websites.
Forty-seven (47) companies posted 84 jobs during this period. A few companies indicated how
many openings there were in each position; these tended to be temporary staffing agencies
looking to fill warehouse positions. With this information we estimate that there were at least
118 openings at these companies.
Table 1 shows the companies that listed openings, the number of job listings, and the number
of openings per listing, if known.
Figure 1: Companies with Job Openings July 15-19, 2013
# of job
listings
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
5
7
1
2
# of openings
not listed
1
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
2 jobs - 1 opening each
1
not listed
FedEx
Forward Air
Frontier Airlines
Gate Safe
HMS Host
Home Depot
4
1
1
1
1
5
2 jobs - 1 opening each
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
Horizon Distributors/SPC Pools
Huntleigh
Ikea
1
1
2
not listed
not listed
not listed
Integrated Airline Services
5
not listed
Company
3D Systems
Aerotek
Aircraft Service International Group
ALTA Air Logistics
American Tire Distributors
Bureau Veritas
CH Robinson
Costco
DHL
Exotic Metals Forming Co
Expeditors
37
Company
Jas Forwarding
Long-distance trucking company
# of job
listings
1
1
# of openings
not listed
not listed
LSG SkyChef
1
Manpower
Menzies Aviation
MIQ Logistics
Northwest Staffing Resources
Ocean Beauty
Office Depot
OHL
OMAX Corp.
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
not listed
warehouse clerk (10 openings in E King; 10
openings in Seattle)
not listed
not listed
warehouse 10 openings
not listed
not listed
not listed
1
Pace Staffing Network
Panalpina
Panasonic Avionics Corp
Physio-Control
REI
1
2
1
1
2
not listed
not listed
not listed
1 job - 1 opening
Seafreeze
1
Smart Talent
SOS Staffing Services
Starbucks
Swissport Inc
1
1
1
2
not listed
1
not listed
not listed
TW Services
Uline
UPS
UTI
Yusen Logistics
1
1
4
2
4
freight handler 2 openings
not listed
not listed
not listed
not listed
Figure 2 on the next page shows the locations of these 47 companies.
38
Figure 2
Locations of Companies with
International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) Job Openings
During the week of July 15-19, 2013, Port Jobs did a scan
of ITTL job openings in King County that require less
than a Bachelor’s Degree. Port Jobs reviewed the
websites of more than 100 companies in addition to
those in the box below.
Bothell
Shoreline
Kirkland
Forty-seven (47) companies listed 84 job openings during
this period. This map shows the locations of these hiring
companies.
Redmond
Bainbridge
Island
Clyde Hill
Bellevue
SEATTLE
Sammamish
Bremerton
Mercer
Island
Port Orchard
Issaquah
Newcastle
Renton
Burien
www.airportjobs.org
Council of Supply Chain
Management Professionals
www.cscmp.org/career
General job search
websites
www.indeed.com
www.simplyhired.com
www.beyond.com
www.monster.com
www.glassdoor.com
✈
Airport Jobs
Tukwila
SeaTac
Des Moines
JobsinLogistics
www.jobsinlogistics.com
Port of Seattle
www.portseattle.org/Jobs
Warehouse Education
and Research Council
www.werc.org/resourcecenter/
job_board.aspx
Federal Way
WorkSource
https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/
worksource/Employment.aspx
Kent
Companies
by Zip Code
1-2
Auburn
3-4
5-6
7-9
✈
Airport Jobs
Center
TACOMA
*Data Source: PortJobs, Washington Geospatial Portal
0
5
10 Miles

Port Jobs Client Data: Port Jobs client data were mined to gather selected demographic data
about the residence of people who visited and got jobs through the Airport Jobs center,
including job seekers who got jobs with air cargo companies at Sea-Tac Airport.
Review of local and national ITTL focused research: ITTL research from across the United
States was reviewed by issuing a “call out” on LinkedIn to persons engaged in ITTL work and
program development. This request resulted in 23 ITTL-related reports and articles being
forwarded to Port Jobs. Telephone follow-up with the authors of two reports was also
conducted to garner more information. The research was collected to get a better
understanding of ITTL workforce training, partnerships and programs and effective practices
used in other areas of the country.
Labor Market Information and Methodology: Labor market data from the Washington State
Employment Security Department were collected to identify projected employment, annual
openings, demand, and hourly wages for selected occupations. Specific data, available through
www.workforceexplorer.com, included:
•
2011-2016 long-term occupational employment projections, released May 2013
(Seattle-King County)
•
2013 occupational employment and wage estimates (Seattle/ Bellevue/ Everett
Metropolitan Division)
•
Occupations in demand (Seattle-King County Workforce Development Area)
•
Industry-Occupation Matrix for Q2_2012, released May 2013. (Seattle-King County)
First, Port Jobs defined the ITTL sector by using (15) 4-digit NAICS codes. 33 Port Jobs applied
the same NAICS code definition used in our 2006 report Employment and Logistics in
International Trade, which included (14) 4-digit NAICS codes, and added one 4-digit code (4921
– Couriers and Express Delivery), for a total of 15 codes. See Figure 3.
33
NAICS, or North American Industry Classification System, and is the standard system used by Federal agencies to
classify businesses by industries. See: http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/
40
Figure 3: ITTL Defined by NAICS Codes
4-digit NAICS
codes used in
this study
Which include
these 6-digit
NAICS Code
Component
4811
481111
481112
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
4812
481211
Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
481212
481219
Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
4821
482111
482112
Line-Haul Railroads
Short-Haul Railroads
4831
483111
483112
483113
483114
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation
Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation
4832
483211
Inland Water Freight Transportation
483212
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
4841
484110
484121
484122
General Freight Trucking, Local
General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload
General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload
4842
484210
484220
484230
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local
Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance
4881
488111
488119
Air Traffic Control
Other Airport Operations
488190
Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
4882
488210
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
4883
488310
488320
488330
Port and Harbor Operations
Marine Cargo Handling
Navigational Services to Shipping
488390
Other Support Activities for Water Transportation
4884
488410
488490
Motor Vehicle Towing
Other Support Activities for Road Transportation
4885
488510
Freight Transportation Arrangement
4889
488991
488999
Packing and Crating
All Other Support Activities for Transportation
493110
Couriers and Express Delivery
General Warehousing and Storage
493120
493130
493190
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
Other Warehousing and Storage
4921
4931
41
Port Jobs reviewed labor market data for 12 occupations from the Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) System using long-term occupational projections. See Figure 4. Selected
SOC Occupations most closely resembled those found in a scan of job openings conducted in
July 2013, and/or are among the occupations with the highest employment in ITTL NAICS
industry codes. “On board” jobs such as captains, sailors, and pilots were not included in this
review, nor were other transportation occupations, like taxi drivers, that are often included in
ITTL studies.
Since occupational projections include employment across all industries, not just ITTL, Port Jobs
estimated the percentage of the occupation found in ITTL industries using the Seattle-King
County Industry-Occupation Matrix. For example, 96% of Freight and Cargo Agents are found in
the 15 ITTL NAICS codes; by contrast, only 6% of Customer Service Agents are found in these
codes. Port Jobs applied these percentages to each occupation’s employment numbers to
estimate employment in ITTL. See Appendix 5 for these employment estimates.
Figure 4: Selected Occupations for Labor
Market Review
Occupation (SOC) Title
SOC #
Transportation, Storage and Distribution
Managers
11-3071
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
53-7051
Customer Service Representative
43-4051
Cargo and Freight Agent
43-5011
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
53-3032
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers,
Hand
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers and
Material Movers-Hand
53-7062
53-1021
Light Truck or Delivery Service Driver
53-3033
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
43-5071
First line supervisors of transportation and
material moving machine and vehicle operators
53-1031
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
49-9041
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative
Support Workers
43-1011
42
Appendix 3: Port Jobs International Trade, Transportation and
Logistics (ITTL) Reports
Logistics and International Trade: Career Ladders and Training Programs in an Evolving Sector
This national scan highlights post-secondary certificate and degree programs that prepare
workers for entry-level jobs in the ITTL sector. The scan examines training programs that are
available for entry-level ITTL workers, who they serve, and gaps in training or services that
might prevent disadvantaged workers and job seekers from working or advancing in the ITTL
sector. (2008)
Big Rig , Short Haul: A Study of Port Truckers in Seattle
If your image of truck driving is of an eighteen-wheeler speeding down America's wide-open
highways, think again. This study takes a comprehensive look at the role of truck drivers in the
movement of freight and the economics of the owner-operator business model. It contains the
results of a survey of port truckers, and includes key findings and recommendations. (2007)
Employment in Logistics and International Trade: Opportunities with Limitations
This study examines whether the ITTL sector in King County can provide the same kind of career
opportunities once provided by manufacturing. This initial scan found that while the ITTL
sector does provide a good number of entry level jobs that pay comparable wages to the
manufacturing sector, advancement may be limited for workers who lack advanced education.
(2006)
These reports are available on Port Jobs’ website at: www.portjobs.org/policy-a-research.
43
Appendix 4: Selected Bibliography
Dena Horton, Clark College. Freight Mobility Workforce Issues, Trends, and Recommendations
for the Transportation Industry in the Pacific Northwest. 2005.
Educational Data Systems Inc., Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Center Final
Report and Business Assessment Summary, December 2010.
“Finding Fresh Talent”, Air Cargo World, November 2011, pgs 23-24.
Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, The Logistics of Education and Education of Logistics:
Exploring the Supply and Demand of the Logistics Workforce, 2012.
John McCurry, “Industry faces hard work to attract new blood,” Air Cargo World, March 15,
2013.
J. Petersen, Air Freight Industry White Paper, The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, H. Milton
Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, April 1,
2007.
Port Jobs, Big Rig, Short Haul: A Study of Port Truckers in Seattle, 2006.
Port Jobs, Employment in Logistics and International Trade – Opportunities with Limitations,
2006.
Port Jobs, Logistics and International Trade: Career Ladders and Training Programs in an
Evolving Sector, 2008.
Port of Seattle, Central & Eastern Washington Export & Tourism Roundtable Forums and Tour
Briefing Book, 2013.
Puget Sound Regional Council, PSRC Regional Air Cargo Strategy, Final Report October 2006.
Puget Sound Regional Council, Regional Economic Strategy for the Central Puget Sound Region:
ECONOMY, Adopted July 25, 2012.
Washington Council on International Trade & the Trade Development Alliance of Greater
Seattle, An International Competitiveness Strategy for Washington State, 2012.
Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and Community Attributes, Talent
Pipeline Study for Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, August 2011.
44
Appendix 5: Labor Market Information for Selected ITTL Occupations (Seattle-King
County)
Est.
employment
2011
(all industries)
Est. employment
2016
(all industries)
Average annual
total openings
2011-2016
Estimated % of
Occupation Employed in
ITTL
(Based on Q2_2012
Industry Occ Matrix)
ESTIMATED
2011
employed in
ITTL
ESTIMATED
2016
employment
in ITTL
ESTIMATED
annual
openings in
ITTL
SOC
Occupation Title
53-3032
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
8,794
9,652
340
53%
4661
5116
180
53-7062
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and
Material Movers, Hand
15,270
17,591
990
27%
4123
4750
267
53-3033
Light Truck or Delivery Service Driver
7,322
7,809
236
22%
1611
1718
52
53-7051
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
3,691
4,047
175
42%
1550
1700
74
53-1031
First line supervisors of transportation
& material moving machine, vehicle
operators
2,356
2,544
81
57%
1343
1450
46
1022
944
950
1196
1050
1004
60
48
35
43-5011
43-4051
43-5071
Cargo and Freight Agent
1,065
1,246
63
Customer Service Representative
15,729
17,494
803
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
6,334
6,696
236
96%
6%
15%
43-1011
First-Line Supervisors of Office and
Administrative Support Workers
9,936
10,668
407
9%
894
960
37
11-3071
Transportation, Storage and
Distribution Managers
1,755
1,888
67
37%
649
699
25
53-1021
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers,
Laborers and Material Movers-Hand
1,335
1,491
56
36%
481
537
20
49-9041
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
14%
2,073
2,363
99
75,660
83,489
3,553
290
331
14
18518
20509
859
Sources: WA Employment Security Department, "Long-Term Occupational Employment Projections 2011-2019” and “Industry-Occupation Matrix for Q2_2012”
(May 2013).
45
Appendix 6: Sample Job Descriptions from Job Openings Scan (July 2013)
Job Title
Air Export Agent
Job Tasks/Responsibilities
• Handle all air export administration such as:
developing air rates, air waybills, air service
and work instructions
• Answer phone
• Review and answer correspondence
• Prepare reports
• Compile, store and retrieve data using
computer
• May be responsible for special shipments
involving perishables (e.g., live sea urchins)
Air Import Breakbulk
Agent
Customer Service
Representative – Ocean
Export
• Arrange the importation of freight by air
freight
• Be the single point of coordination between
customers and air carriers
• Prepare, issue, and submit documentation to
ensure proper importation of client shipments
• Provide clients with advice concerning terms
of delivery, payment, insurance, and all other
airfreight import services
• Ensure invoicing of rendered services is
completed accurately
• Point of contact for customers and
documentation process unit of ocean export
team ensuring operational excellence and
customer satisfaction
• Receive and validate customer orders
• Issue shipment handling instructions to all
relevant parties
• File tariff rate, as applicable
• Arrange for pickup transfer of cargo
Requirements
Type of company
Staffing agency
• 3-5 years of experience
• Word, Excel, Outlook
• Fast/accurate data entry skills
• Subject to background check and drug screen
• Good spelling, grammar, writing, punctuation
• Strong customer service skills/experience
• Excellent phone etiquette
•
•
•
•
•
High School Diploma/GED
1-3 years airfreight operations experience
Strong keyboarding skills
Familiarity with basic accounting principles
Familiarity with Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) procedures
• Basic airfreight knowledge
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Dangerous Goods certification a plus
Freight
forwarder/3rd Party
Logistics
• 2-3 years industry experience within ocean export
function mandatory
• Strong knowledge of freight forwarding and
regulatory requirements
• Excellent interpersonal skills; good judgment skills
and ability to make decisions
• Familiarity with tariffs and customs
• Knowledge and expertise with Microsoft products
Freight
forwarder/3rd Party
Logistics
46
Job Title
Field Service Agent
Logistics Coordinator
• Answer customer inquiries
• Provide accurate job costing forecast
• Assist Sales in compiling quotes by providing
rates, tariffs, etc.
• Provide customer service, sales and
operational support for the Service Center
• Answer phones and greet visitors
• Research shipment tracking, resolves billing
problems
• Assist with operational procedures including
sorting, loading/unloading, shipment
processing/documentation, manifesting,
bagging, sending status information
• Dispatches pick-up and delivery information;
arranges daily pick-up schedules
• May process import/export documentation
and assist in customs clearance process
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Monitor new orders and coordinate manually
entered orders with Marketing and Sales
Departments
Process orders
Generate bills of lading, ship labels, pack slips,
invoices
Schedule freight pickups, as necessary
Maintain customer website data
Work with Production, Purchasing, and
Shipping to manage product availability and
shipment
Maintain back order reports and fill orders as
available
Requirements
• Previous experience in customer service/support
or related field
Type of company
Freight/Package
Delivery
• Previous supervisory experience preferred
• Strong communication skills (written/oral)
• Proficient in Microsoft office products (Excel,
Word, Outlook)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
High School Diploma or GED
Minimum of 3 years of experience in an
administrative or clerical position
Good verbal and written communication skills
Familiar with overall EDI (electronic data
interchange) methodology and processes
Proficient in Microsoft office applications
Proven customer service ability
Pass criminal background and drug screen
Staffing agency
47
Job Title
Cargo Handler
Dockworker
• Receive, store, distribute freight
• Read air waybill, bills of lading or freight
manifest to determine items to be moved,
gathering or distributed
• Convey freight from receiving areas to storage
with forklift or transporter
• Sort and place items on racks/bins; including
putting dangerous goods in proper area
• Fill requests for materials, tools and other
items and distribute to other locations
• Record counts of items received or distributed
• Perform cargo buildup and/or breakdown,
freight to/from skid, pallets or unit load
devices.
• Perform freight handling using motorized and
manual equipment, i.e., forklift, pallet jack,
hand truck
• Verify documentation matches freight
description (by type/weight/hazardous
materials) using electronic or manual system
• Secure freight inside trailers
• Verify and complete required documentation
and reports
Requirements
Type of company
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
18+ years old
Valid driver’s license and good driving record
Minimum 6 months of experience
Must pass drug screen
Lift up to 70 lbs
Must pass FBI background check and obtain
US Customs and Border Protection security seal
• Forklift certification preferred
Aviation services
• 18+ years old
• Prior experience in warehousing, freight handling
and/or forklift operations preferred
• Ability to count and perform basic math with and
without calculator
• Basic written and verbal communication skills
(documentation, communication with peers,
supervisors)
• Ability to lift/carry hand freight of varying
weights; bend, twist, push freight
Freight/Package
Delivery
48
Job Title
Requirements
Type of company
Material Handler
•
Receive, store, ship and transport warehoused
goods
•
•
•
Operate motorized equipment like forklift,
clamp, cherry pickers, motorized pallet jacks,
etc.
And/or 6 months related experience preferred
Freight
forwarder/3rd Party
Logistics
•
Maintain inventory on office share drive
•
Disassemble, reassemble or repair products,
materials, equipment
•
Sort, pallet, weigh, load based on customer
specifications
•
Scan documents to inbound/outbound loads
in transportation management system
•
Check damage, deleted, defective good to
return to supplier inventory
•
Contact buyers and suppliers, obtain supplier
return authorization, package items, and ship
them out
•
Distribute logs, collect and key destroyed
merchandise sheets
•
Ensure that RTV inventory is accurately
reflected
•
Keep RTV inventory at a minimum by
obtaining return authorization and shipping
merchandise to approved destination
•
Follows proper Receiving and general safety
and security procedures.
•
Document and track out-for-repair items
Return to Vendor (RTV)
clerk
• AS400 Computer skills
• Basic math skills
• Warehouse experience
• Licenses and Certifications (within 30 days):
o Hazardous Materials Training
o HAZMAT-General Awareness
o HAZMAT-shipping prep
o HAZMAT-security plan training
o HIPAA training
Retailer Distribution
Center
49
Job Title
Requirements
Type of company
Dock Supervisor
•
•
•
2 years of experience managing and supervising
employees
Thorough understanding of Less than truckload
(LTL) trucking industry including basic paperwork
flow preferred
Prior management, dispatch, and dock experience
required, preferably in LTL trucking industry
Computer literate AS/400 and Microsoft office
experience preferred
Pass pre-employment drug screen, criminal
history background check
WA driver’s license
Trucking/Freight
Delivery
Must pass a Dept of Transportation (DOT) physical
Must pass a company-provided road test
Have valid Class A Commercial Driver's License
with Haz-Mat endorsement
21 years or older
Ability to read, write and speak English
Meet DOT mental and physical requirements
Must receive satisfactory results from a
background check and pass drug screening
Trucking/Freight
Delivery
•
•
Supervise and assist freight loaders and
unloaders and activities of the dock
Hire/terminate employees
Comply with safety rules, operations,
procedure and maintenance instructions
•
•
•
•
•
Dry Van Dedicated OTR
Driver
•
•
•
Drive tractor-trailer for the over-the-road
delivery of freight to two or more locations
Be on the road from 3-5 days at a time
Assigned to run freight for one customer
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
50
Appendix 7: Outline for Airport University “Introduction to
International Trade, Transportation and Logistics” Course
World Trading Systems
•
•
•
Why Trade?
Trading and Transportation Policies: Who is involved, and how do they promote trade?
Global Trade Patterns: What is going where and why?
Freight Transportation
•
•
•
•
How to speak “Freight”
Modes and strategies: How do we ship and receive goods across town, and across the
globe?
Infrastructure: Why do we need seaports, airports, roads, bridges, and tunnels?
Cargo and Commodities- What are we shipping and how is it handled?
Jobs and Careers in Freight Transportation
•
•
•
•
•
Equipment Operation- Road, Rail, Maritime, Intermodal
Warehousing, Freight Consolidation, Order Picking and Fulfillment
Freight Forwarding, Booking, Sales of Transportation/Logistics Services
Specialty Services- Chartering, Customs Brokering, Insurance, Compliance
Documentation, Safety and Security, Fuel and Hazmat Handling, Hazmat Response
Supply Chain Management overview
Air Cargo Specifics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Overview of Air Cargo Industry
Air Parcel Services, Dedicated Cargo Airlines, Charter Market, Belly Cargo
Contrast/Comparison with Ocean/Land modes
Safety and Security Issues in Air Cargo Handling
Hazmat
Stowage Procedures
Anti-Terrorism Protocols
Pathways: Connections to Community College Programs and Beyond
•
Inventory of relevant certificate and degree tracks available at the time of course launch
51

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