Release date:2018-06-06
The Last Mile Challenge (III): Reversing the Unfavourable Industry Image
The Last Mile Challenge (III): Reversing the Unfavourable Industry Image
发布日期：2018-06-06 12:25
The Last Mile Challenge
Reversing the Unfavourable Industry Image
Two Cases in Hong Kong
The shortage of frontline staff in courier industry is not only related to the expansion of the business, competition from food delivery, but also an unfavourable image.
Unfavourable public image for the Courier Industry
- Bearing an undesirable collier image – low skilled manual labour
- A perception of long working hours, less favourable working environment and non-optimistic industry prospect, etc.
- The unfavourable image leads to
- High turnover rate especially for younger staff
- Young people not willing to join
- Aging workforce
- Difficult to recruit
- While it is important to try different channels to recruit, it is imperative to project a positive image for the industry, the companies and the employees so that the younger people and their parents will respect and join.
The construction industry was once in a similar situation to the courier.
The Construction Industry – the “Build Up” campaign
To cope with the serious lack of labour, aging workforce and unfavourable image, the construction industry launched a PR and training program “Build Up / Build升” in 2010.
- The objective was to encourage young people to join the industry and give them job opportunities
- Funded by HK Govt.
- Providing training courses
- Providing subsidies for the trainees/apprentices
- Outlining a career path for advancement
- PR pieces aired, incl.
- Posters & TVC
- Sponsored TV drama “Dreams Come True 總有出頭天 – 六個在建築業打拼的故事““
Employing 458,341 people by the end of 20171, the industry effectively reverses the manpower shortage and negative perception.
Similar to the Courier and the Construction Industry, the Retail Industry, employing 267,796 people2 in June 2017, also suffered from manpower shortage and an unfavourable industry image.
The Retail Industry
- Stereotypes of the salespersons in department stores or shops, the Retail industry is perceived as low skilled and low salaried.
- As a result, the industry is constantly in need of 7,000+ staff.
To solve the issues, the trade organization Hong Kong Retail Management Association has worked out with the Government,
- Qualifications Framework (QF) for the retail industry - to outline a career path for the industry practitioners, to guide training and to improve the professional image
- To support the Industry, Labour Department opened a Recruitment Centre for the Retail Industry in 2010. The Centre provides venue for recruitment for free.
*Research report provided by Mcalren & Robinson Consultancy Limitied