Skill and knowledge requirements of entry-level logistics and supply chain management professionals: A comparative study of Ireland and Spain

Abstract

The authors examine the educational and training requirements of entry-level graduates employed in the freight transport, distribution, and logistics sector. Five skill and knowledge categories are considered. By comparing the perceived importance of certain skills for companies and the performance of graduates, education and training gaps are identified. These gaps are compared for Ireland and Spain, two countries with different industrial and managerial contexts. Descriptive analysis of a sample of 108 firms reveals major gaps. The country comparison shows that Spanish graduates have more skill and knowledge deficiencies than Irish graduates. Despite the smaller gaps for Irish graduates, data variability is greater than for Spanish graduates.

Keywords:

• Graduate requirements
• higher education institutions
• logistics
• skills and knowledge
• supply chain management