From fluctuating steel prices to delayed component shipments, the aftershocks of ongoing trade tensions are reshaping how material handling companies think about their workforce.
But while these changes bring challenges, they also open up opportunities for organizations willing to adapt.
Tariffs Are a Talent Issue
It’s easy to view tariffs through a financial lens – higher costs, longer lead times, supply chain bottlenecks. But beneath those surface pressures lies a deeper shift in how companies build and deploy talent.
As steel and aluminum tariffs raise the cost of core components, many material handling businesses are finding that new equipment purchases are either delayed or downsized. Instead, the emphasis is shifting toward maximizing the efficiency of existing systems, which increases demand for:
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Process engineers
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Continuous improvement professionals
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Maintenance and reliability specialists
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WMS and automation integration experts
According to recent surveys, 42% of companies affected by tariffs have trimmed their salary increase plans, and nearly 25% have scaled back hiring altogether. But for the material handling sector, that doesn’t mean standing still. It means hiring smarter.
From Procurement to Optimization
In previous years, operational growth was often driven by new equipment purchases and warehouse expansions. Now, the focus is on optimization is how to get more throughput from the same square footage, how to reduce downtime, and how to leverage automation to offset labor gaps. That requires a workforce with a different set of skills, including:
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Data-driven decision-makers
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Cross-functional technicians
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Controls and electrical engineers fluent in legacy and new platforms
The Reshoring Ripple Effect
One of the more unexpected outcomes of ongoing trade friction is the reshoring trend. To mitigate risk and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, many companies are bringing parts of their operations, especially assembly and light manufacturing, closer to home. That shift is creating demand for:
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Production supervisors
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Domestic sourcing managers
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Quality assurance leads
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Plant-level operations talent
As reshoring accelerates, companies that can quickly tap into domestic talent pools will be better positioned to scale while competitors wait on shipments.
Turning Uncertainty into Competitive Advantage
While macroeconomic uncertainty has cooled hiring in some sectors (U.S. job growth slowed to just 139,000 new roles in May 2025) the material handling space is evolving, not retreating. The companies that win in this environment are those that embrace change and align their talent strategy with the new normal.
Instead of searching for candidates who fit yesterday’s job description, leading employers are reimagining roles, seeking out agile, adaptable, and skilled professionals who can move between functions, lead process improvements, and implement new technologies.
Ready to Adapt?
Facing cost pressures or talent gaps due to market volatility? At Pioneer Search, we help material handling companies hire the people who keep goods moving. Instead of waiting for talent to come to you, let us help you access the hidden workforce.
Contact Pioneer Search Group today.
