ICHCA International's Australian section is backing an industry initiative that tackles a skills shortage in the Australian transport and logistics industry.

The South Australian Freight Council (SAFC) has created a website as part of a national careers information program, designed to attract young job seekers to the industry.

According to Inside ICHCA, ICHCA Australia Ltd's monthly e-newsletter, a critical shortage of skilled workers in the AUD60 billion (USD44.5billion)-a-year transport and logistics industry could threaten the country's future economic growth. A major contributing factor to the skills shortage was the industry's low profile among job seekers.

SAFC chairman Vincent Tremaine said without the transport and logistics industry, Australian industry and thousands of jobs would stall.

"This crucial industry underpins every decision made by consumers and is the vital cog in the wheel that keeps all Australian industry going."

He said the industry accounted for nine per cent (AUD60 billion/USD44.5 billion a year) of Australia's GDP and employed more than 400,000 people nationally. In the state of South Australia, it was worth AUD4.85 billion a year to the economy and employed 30,800.

"With current industry and government forecasts predicting the national transport task to double over the 20 years to 2020, there are already some critical shortages that need to be urgently addressed."

Tremaine said the industry "suffered from an unwarranted identity crisis" of being blue-collared, low-paid and with poor career pathways. "As an industry, we need to change the way we are perceived and quickly."

ICHCA Australia chairman John Strang applauded the SAFC initiative.

"This is an excellent initiative, showing younger Australians there is a positive future by becoming part of the logistics and cargo handling industry."

The SAFC website, www.the-linc.com.au, provides information on career pathways and jobs and the industry sector, assistance in locating service providers and major facilities, and fact sheets on diverse topics.