Job Jitters: Gen Z-Z-Z
Good morning! As we embark on another exciting edition of our newsletter, we find ourselves in the midst of a heartwarming celebration: National Brother's Day! This special occasion allows us to reflect on the invaluable role that brothers play in our lives, and perhaps, even in the world of supply chain. Just like the intricate network of interconnected nodes that make up a robust supply chain, brothers bring a unique blend of support, camaraderie, and sometimes even healthy competition to our lives. They are often our confidants, partners-in-crime, and pillars of strength when we need them the most.
Happy reading, and happy National Brother's Day to all the brothers out there who keep our lives and supply chains running smoothly!
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According to data from the college career site Handshake, defense contractors such as Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are experiencing increased interest from new college graduates, while tech companies failed to rank in the top 10 in terms of search interest. The number of applications for jobs in government, law, politics, and other non-tech industries has shown significant growth, reflecting the heightened focus on employment stability among this year's graduates.
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impact of the Great Recession has shaped the priorities of Gen Z graduates, with 85% of 2023 grads considering stability as an important factor when applying for jobs. These new graduates seek stable work that aligns with their values, provides work-life balance, and is willing to work hard while maintaining boundaries around working hours.
Check out today’s featured article from VOX to read about the needs and desires of the new generation of workers. Will there be significant changes in the relationship between employees and employers? Is financial stability universally the top priority for everyone?
Featured Article:
Gen Z just wants a stable job | VOX
“Young people are suddenly interested in working for the military-industrial complex.”
Network Association & Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Waymo and Uber Collaborate on Robotaxis in Phoenix
Waymo and Uber have announced a partnership in the Phoenix area to leverage self-driving cars for passenger transportation and food delivery. This collaboration represents a significant milestone following years of contentious legal battles between the two companies regarding self-driving technology. Since 2020, Waymo has been operating its robotaxi service in Phoenix, while Uber continues to rely on human drivers for its ridesharing service. By joining forces, Waymo can expand its autonomous service while simultaneously competing with Uber for passenger demand.
The partnership entails Waymo offering its driverless vehicles to Uber in Phoenix, a decision made after Uber settled a lawsuit in 2018 by paying Waymo $245 million over allegations of stolen self-driving car technology. The objective of this collaboration is to dispatch Waymo's autonomous vehicles via the Uber app to pick up passengers and make food deliveries later this year. The precise number of robotaxis involved in this venture has not been disclosed.
Shortages & Tech 👾
Supply chain technology deals are facing obstacles due to teetering Silicon Valley
According to a report by PitchBook, venture capital (VC) investment in the supply chain technology sector experienced a significant decline in Q1 2023, plummeting by 45.3% compared to Q4 2022. The report suggests that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March likely contributed to this sharp downturn in VC deals. The collapse of the tech lender triggered a major financial crisis that had a ripple effect on VC investment across various sectors, including supply chain technology. However, the report does highlight some positive developments, such as the increased deal value in the freight tech sector, with Sweden being involved in two of the largest deals in that area.
PitchBook's report reveals that the overall value of supply chain tech deals in 2022 returned to levels similar to the average figure observed between 2018 and 2020, prior to the significant increase in deals and VC funding driven by the pandemic in 2021. In terms of specific vertical supply chain tech markets, enterprise supply chain management, last-mile delivery, and warehousing tech saw modest increases in value. The report also highlights a notable VC deal in Q4 2022, where Locus Robotics secured $117 million, nearly doubling its valuation. Locus Robotics specializes in autonomous mobile robots for warehouse operations, offering advantages over traditional materials-handling solutions in terms of flexibility and rapid deployment. The company's robotics-as-a-service business model provides operational flexibility and allows for easy redeployment to other facilities.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🚢 The number of containers lost at sea significantly declined in 2022. The World Shipping Council (WSC) has reported a significant decline in the number of containers lost at sea in 2022, with only 661 containers lost compared to previous years. The decrease is attributed to a lack of major incidents. While the industry has made progress in improving container safety, the WSC emphasizes the importance of ongoing vigilance to protect crews, cargo, and the environment.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
💰 Understanding the Debt Ceiling. The Republicans, led by McCarthy, are insisting on spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt limit, arguing that the current national debt is unsustainable. Biden, who initially sought a debt ceiling increase without conditions, has now engaged in negotiations with Republicans, but urges them to back off their "extreme positions." While progress has been made, including discussions on a potential 2024 budget year cap, there is still work to be done to reach a final agreement.
🧐 Rethinking Toyota's Supply Chain for the Post-Pandemic Era. Toyota is reevaluating its inventory management approach after the pandemic highlighted the challenges of operating a just-in-time supply chain. Despite having contingency plans in place, the automaker faced significant disruptions as dealer inventories dropped to zero. Toyota is now focusing on evolving its inventory strategy and prioritizing supply chain resilience across its business, particularly as it increases the production of electric vehicles.
🏎️ Target improves with increased capacity and faster loading speeds. Target is implementing various strategies to improve its delivery operations. The retailer is increasing the use of larger delivery vehicles in markets served by its sortation centers, which improves capacity and allows for more efficient routes. The company is also standardizing and streamlining the loading process for these vehicles, enabling faster and more organized deliveries.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
♻️ Procurement's Role in Advancing ESG in the Supply Chain. The lack of transparency in supplier credentials and limited opportunities to work with new suppliers hinder sustainable procurement practices. However, there are practical steps organizations can take to invest in sustainable procurement, including identifying opportunities for sustainable purchases, setting goals and guidelines for buyers, measuring progress, and leveraging multiple spending channels to find sellers with sustainability-related certifications.
👗 The Current and Future State of E-Commerce in the Fashion Industry. The growth of online fashion sales has slowed down since the pandemic, but companies should prepare for future growth, according to Gregor Baumeister, director of warehousing and distribution at Beumer Group. The shutdowns led to a significant increase in online sales, putting pressure on distribution centers to meet the demand.
🍌 Converting Food Waste into Valuable Resources. The United States continues to face significant challenges related to food waste, with nearly 40% of food being discarded throughout the entire food supply chain. The negative impact of food waste, including the release of greenhouse gases and the wastage of resources, is often overlooked. However, there is potential to address this issue by analyzing waste at different stages of the food chain and finding ways to diminish or utilize it.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 27, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.