What does a warehouse labour do?

Warehouse labour workers are responsible for organizing shipment details by processing the correct quantity of orders, ensuring that the items are free from any defects and mislabeling. Warehouse labourers prepare the items for packaging efficiently, update the inventory records, and escalate production discrepancy to the management for immediate resolution. They should also strictly adhere to the production area's safety regulations, especially on loading and unloading items, and moving each package to appropriate shelves using warehouse equipment.
Warehouse labour responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real warehouse labour resumes:
- Maintain inventory records using the AS400 database.
- Perform duties of order pulling and stocker in the repack department.
- Load and unload trucks containing pallets utilizing forklift.
- Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
- Package individual materials and addressed for FedEx delivery.
- Work distribution in association with several delivery companies including FedEx.
Warehouse labour skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Warehouse Labours are proficient in Pallets, Customer Orders, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Math skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Warehouse Labours that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Pallets, 18%
Loaded and unloaded trucks containing pallets utilizing forklift.
- Customer Orders, 13%
Processed customer orders and prepared them for shipment
- Customer Service, 7%
Demonstrated ability to resolve problems and provide quality customer service within a diverse working environment.
- Hand Trucks, 5%
Unload freight, stock, and other materials to and from storage or containers, by hand trucks and pallet jacks.
- Basic Math, 5%
Warehouse maintenance as needed Skills Used *Determination *Consistency *Literary skills *Basic Mathematics
- OSHA, 4%
Maintained and upheld facility OSHA Safety regulations.
"pallets," "customer orders," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that warehouse labours use at work. You can find even more warehouse labour responsibilities below, including:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a warehouse labour to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." Additionally, a warehouse labour resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "load trucks with products in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented dock environment perform freight handling using appropriate motorized and manual equipment"
Math skills. Many warehouse labour duties rely on math skills. "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements.," so a warehouse labour will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways warehouse labour responsibilities rely on math skills: "cut material using math to certain specs as well as how many pieces needed to be cut. "
Customer-service skills. This is an important skill for warehouse labours to perform their duties. For an example of how warehouse labour responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a warehouse labour: "maintained cleanliness of store front by sweeping and blowing leaves from entrance/exit.assisted customers in carrying and loading their purchases. ".
Communication skills. A big part of what warehouse labours do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to warehouse labour responsibilities because "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical warehouse labour tasks: "maintained necessary level of communications between shifts.responsible for achieving production requirements.ensured that all health and safety guidelines were followed. "
The three companies that hire the most warehouse labours are:
- Amazon306 warehouse labours jobs
- United Natural Foods252 warehouse labours jobs
- Ashley HomeStore180 warehouse labours jobs
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Warehouse labour vs. Material handler/warehouse
A warehouse material handler is responsible for assisting warehouse operations, moving merchandise from one place to another, labeling products, performing quality check procedures, packaging goods, and loading and unloading items from distribution vehicles. Warehouse material handlers operate warehouse tools and equipment for production, as well as ensuring the adequacy of stock inventory needed for orders and deliveries. A warehouse material handler also updates product information on the database and do administrative tasks, such as writing reports and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between warehouse labours and material handler/warehouse. For instance, warehouse labour responsibilities require skills such as "cleanliness," "rf," "groceries," and "roofing." Whereas a material handler/warehouse is skilled in "work ethic," "warehouse environment," "supply support," and "ladders." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Material handler/warehouses really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $34,722. Comparatively, warehouse labours tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,085.The education levels that material handler/warehouses earn slightly differ from warehouse labours. In particular, material handler/warehouses are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a warehouse labour. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Warehouse labour vs. General warehouse associate
A General Warehouse Associate performs a variety of tasks at warehouses on a day-to-day basis. They typically receive and process shipments, organize stocks, inspect packages to ensure quantity and quality, maintain inventory and other records, operate tools and equipment such as forklifts and scanners, utilize warehouse spaces, and prepare products subjected for deliveries. Moreover, a General Warehouse Associate must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that warehouse labour responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "basic math," "cleanliness," and "math." But a general warehouse associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "rf scanner," "forklift equipment," "trolleys," and "outbound trailers."
On average, general warehouse associates earn a higher salary than warehouse labours. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, general warehouse associates earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $33,144. Whereas warehouse labours have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,085.Average education levels between the two professions vary. General warehouse associates tend to reach similar levels of education than warehouse labours. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Warehouse labour vs. Warehouse shipping clerk
Warehouse associates/drivers are skilled warehouse employees who are responsible for operating forklifts and other equipment to perform the loading and unloading of warehouse products. These employees are required to manage and plan delivery routes so that they can develop safer and shorter routes to save gas as well as ensure on-time customer delivery. They must examine and inspect stock items for defects while reporting and damages to their supervisors. These employees must also receive and stock incoming inventory items as well as scan and organize them according to the company's health and safety regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a warehouse labour is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "basic math," "cleanliness," and "math," while a typical warehouse shipping clerk is skilled in "pallet jack," "data entry," "ups," and "cycle counts."
Warehouse shipping clerks make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $35,441. On the other hand, warehouse labours are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $33,085.When it comes to education, warehouse shipping clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to warehouse labours. In fact, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Warehouse labour vs. Warehouse associate/driver
Types of warehouse labour
Updated January 8, 2025











