// Number of temporary delivery drivers falls by more than a quarter as thousands, new research suggests.
// It follows workers returning to their pre-pandemic jobs in retail or hospitality
The number of temporary delivery drivers has fallen by more than a quarter as thousands of workers return to their pre-pandemic jobs in retail, new research suggests.
Delivery work was a “lifeline” for many people during the lockdown amid a big increase in online shopping, according to jobs site Indeed Flex.
Its study indicated that the number of temporary drivers available for work in June was 28.8 per cent down on its March level, with many opting for shifts in the hospitality and retail sectors instead.
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“The logistics sector stepped up admirably last year, keeping millions of locked-down Britons supplied with food and essentials,” Indeed Flex chief executive Jack Beaman said.
“The surging demand for delivery drivers also proved a lifeline for many people whose jobs in hospitality, tourism or high street retail came to an abrupt end.
“Now, as lockdown restrictions ease, many of the temporary drivers who kept Britain moving in its time of need are boomeranging back to their old jobs.
“The trend is happening at the worst possible time for logistics businesses, who are simultaneously grappling with the post-Brexit shortage of drivers and a ‘pingdemic’ which is forcing many staff to stay off work to isolate at home.
“The news is better for those looking for temporary work as a driver. They’re in the driving seat like never before – as flexible workers with an in-demand skill, they can pick and choose the shifts that suit them best.”
with PA Wires
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