The warehousing industry faces a significant labor issue, accounting for 50% to 70% of total budgets, as noted by a Bostontec study. Manual order picking is a major expense, comprising around half of warehouse operating costs. Factors such as rising hiring costs, a shrinking labor pool, and the demanding nature of the work contribute to this problem. In 2023, the industry reported 4.7 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers (BLS).
