Soggy pizza? Delivery shifts soar as drivers ‘boomerang’ back to old jobs
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The number of temporary delivery drivers ready to pick up shifts has tumbled by over a quarter, new data has found, with many leaving flexible working behind.
Thousands have returned to their pre-pandemic professions in hospitality and retail, according to Indeed Flex, the job sites flexible working division.
In London, the number of available drivers has fallen by 14 per cent while shifts have soared 53 per cent.
With millions pushed into redundancy or furlough during lockdown, delivery jobs acted as a lifeline for many job seekers – particularly with hospitality and non-essential retail unopen for business.
But after restrictions first began easing in April, the average number of temporary drivers available for work last month was down 28.8 per cent on its March level.
Many were instead opting for shifts in the hospitality and retail sectors, Indeed Flex found, but as drivers decreased – delivery shifts needing to be filled rose by 15.6 per cent.
“The logistics sector stepped up admirably last year, keeping millions of locked-down Britons supplied with food and essentials,” CEO and co-founder of Indeed Flex, Jack Beaman said.
“Now as lockdown restrictions ease and many of the temporary drivers who kept Britain moving in its time of need are boomeranging back to their old jobs.”
The shortage may spell longer waiting times for customers, particularly in London’s recent heavy rains.
The lack of delivery drivers is most acute in Edinburgh, the data revealed, where driver numbers have plummeted 54 per cent between March and June, while the number of available shifts posted by employers spiked 131 per cent.
It comes as the HGV industry has reported a shortage of some 100,000 lorry drivers – sparked by pandemic travel restrictions, Brexit and the newly emerged ‘pingdemic’.