The past several years have seen the e-commerce industry soar. In 2020 alone, e-commerce sales increased by over 33%, a staggering indication that the COVID-19 pandemic marked a paradigm shift in how consumers shop.1 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce predicts this growth to continue – the third quarter of 2023 estimated an increase in e-commerce sales of 7.6% compared to Q3 the year prior.2
Although consumers can enjoy buying goods seamlessly over their screens, this growth has resulted in changes throughout warehouse and distribution industries in the U.S. to meet this growing commerce demand. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated over 7 million people worked as hand laborers and material movers and predict this industry to add more than 350,000 workers (5% growth) before 2032, which is faster than average.3