Growing Livelihood Opportunities for Women

The Last-Mile Delivery Industry

The last-mile delivery (LMD) industry is growing and has the potential to employ nearly 2.5 million agents by 2025. Today, less than 5 percent of last-mile delivery agents are women.
Hiring women as delivery agents can enable a more reliable workforce. Photo credit: MONEY SHARMA / AFP via Getty Images

Industry Overview

Last-mile delivery is the final leg of a delivery when an online purchase is delivered to the customer. The industry is a USD 1.35 billion market and is expected to grow at approximately 36 percent annually.[1] This growth is driven by the rise in use of e-commerce and order-taking apps.

The LMD industry has high potential for GLOW as it:

  • Has the potential to employ nearly 2.5 million agents by 2025[2]
  • Can create well-paying jobs with flexible working hours that with align with women’s employment needs
  • Leverages women’s often perceived capabilities as more reliable, diligent workers[3] with better attention to detail

Barriers Faced by Employers

Hiring women as delivery agents can enable LMD companies to reduce attrition and have a more reliable workforce. Employers face barriers to hiring more women such as:

  • Low awareness among women about LMD as an aspirational employment opportunity
  • Safety concerns
  • Societal norms against women joining this industry
  • Lack of ownership of vehicles and limited financing options for vehicles

GLOW's Last-Mile Delivery Partners

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