Warehousing is one of the UK’s significant employment sectors, but its contribution to the labour market may be understated. Analysis by logistics consultancy Aricia for the UK Warehousing Association estimates that around 760,000 people work in warehousing. The figure is substantially higher than the 440,000 recorded by the Office for National Statistics.
Aricia says the difference is partly explained by warehouse roles embedded within retail and manufacturing businesses. These jobs may not appear in official figures as part of a separate warehousing category, even though they involve the storage, handling and movement of goods.
Growth has also been stronger than across employment as a whole. Using the lower ONS figure, the analysis calculates that warehousing employment increased by 40% between 2011 and the latest comparison point, while total UK employment grew by 14%.
A broad range of workplaces
Warehouse careers are not limited to online fulfilment. Research by Savills and the UKWA in 2024 found that third-party logistics companies used more warehouse space than online retailers. High-street retailers also occupied more space than online businesses. This reflects the range of employers and operating environments available to people entering the sector.
Roles can involve stock control, transport coordination, equipment operation, maintenance, safety, planning and digital warehouse systems. As warehouses adopt more automation and connected technology, employees increasingly need a combination of practical, technical and problem-solving skills. Employers and equipment specialists such as Still Materials Handling operate in an environment where safe and effective work remains central.
The sector also has a wider economic impact. Logistics UK says logistics contributes £175 billion in annual gross value added and enables more than £1 trillion in international trade. It estimates that the industry could support an additional £8 billion in UK economic growth each year.
For jobseekers, the message is that warehousing can offer more than entry-level work. The combination of operational responsibility, technology and progression opportunities makes it a practical route into logistics and wider industrial careers. For policymakers, the employment scale strengthens the case for supporting employers rather than imposing measures that discourage recruitment and investment.