Millions of women have “vacated the premises” – that is, they left their business-workplace jobs since this pandemic began. Not the case, however in global shipping and handling. Fortunately, over this same period, we’re seeing female representation in this sector trending upward.
A 2021 “Women in Supply Chain” survey conducted by Gartner and Awesome revealed that women now make up 41 percent of the supply chain management workforce. That’s the highest percentage ever in that survey’s history.
In past decades, this industry was traditionally male-dominated, and that’s shifting. But, on the eve of both Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Prime Fresh Handling is proud to share that it has long been ahead of the curve, proudly championing female representation and diversity in the workplace.
“Simply put, the companies that make up the Prime Group believe that diverse employee teams are our company’s best resource for reimagining new strategies and solving age-old problems with creative and unique solutions,” says Cristina Moscoso, West Coast General Manager for Prime Fresh Handling, one of four divisions of U.S.-based Prime Group. “These are critical skills that all businesses need during good times but especially during challenging times.”
Women are Now in Demand
Industry-wide, the number of supply chain companies who say they desire to attract, hire, develop, and retain female employees has soared. In fact, that’s zoomed upward by double digits – from 46 percent of supply chain industry respondents in 2020 to 68 percent in 2021, according to a survey by Gartner and ASCM.
“Right now, we’re seeing more women not only seeking jobs in supply chain and cool chain management services but also viewing our industry as an ‘in demand’ career choice with potential for job progression,” she continues. “That’s a big plus on the diversity side.”
A past stumbling block was pay parity within many companies, but that too has progressed. According to the Association for Supply Chain Management, results from its recent “Supply Chain Salary and Career Report” show the previous pay gap between what men and women under 40 years of age can earn for supply chain jobs is now close to parity.
“It’s hopeful that this trend will continue industry-wide as those same female employees age and move into the next phase of their supply chain management careers,” Moscoso added.
A Climate of Inclusion
The overarching goal of Prime Fresh Handling, along with all its sister companies, is to create a climate of inclusion, a pathway to career fulfillment, equal opportunities for all, and the absolute best-employee team it can build to assist its entire global base of clientele.
Daily, customers all around the world interact with highly qualified women in management positions across the multiple divisions – everyone from Moscoso at LAX; to Prime Logistics Group Sales Manager Yulieth Onofre and Prime Planet Business Development Manager Marie Gonzalez, both in Miami; and Elizabeth Suarez, General Manager of PrimeAir-Ecuador/Colombia/Peru.
A diverse workforce adds one “secret sauce” element for employers as well. It tends to foster a culture of empathy for others, which directly impacts any company’s ability to best serve all its customers. That’s the right thing to do. Plus, it’s a positive factor that can lead to greater business success. So, as we move into an all-new year, let’s champion the progress of women in supply chain management but also pledge to keep moving the needle forward for diversity in 2022 and beyond.
Global Services
Whether it’s a box, a pallet, or a companywide logistics operation, PFH is skilled in achieving safe on-time delivery of time- and temperature-sensitive material and products between any point of origin and destination around the globe.
In fact, PFH is also known as a global leader in perishables transportation of fresh produce shipping, fish, cut flowers, and plants. With state-of-the-art facilities in Europe, South America, and across North America, PFH leverages industry-leading technologies such as vacuum cooling, sorting, re-packing, barcoding, labeling, and temperature monitoring to guarantee a consistent, safe, and fresh delivery.
Contact Prime Fresh Handling
For information, contact PFH General Manager, West Coast: Cristina Moscoso at 323-328-8650, via email at cmoscoso@prime-fresh.com, or visit our website to learn more about our global Miami perishable logistics company.