jobfacts

Elementary storage occupations n.e.c.

SOC 2020 9259

Job holders in this unit group supply berthed ships with water, oil and petroleum, load and unload cargo from ships, boats and barges, and perform other elementary goods handling and storage related tasks not classified elsewhere in minor group 925: Elementary storage occupations.

Also calledPort operativeStevedorePort workerPassenger operations workerAirport baggage handlerAirline baggage handlerand 134 more titles
Typical full-time pay£35,9002025 Provisional
People in the job12,000across the UK
New adverts a month466↓ 8.7%on last year · 273rd of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time elementary storage occupations n.e.c. earn, 2025
£35,900 typical£27,000lowest 20%£29,10025%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less than£27,000
25%£29,100
Median£35,900
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £35,900
East of England!£40,000
South East!£39,400
South West!£31,000
North East!£26,900
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £35,900
East of England£40,000 (small sample)
South East£39,400 (small sample)
South West£31,000 (small sample)
North East£26,900 (small sample)
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £30,400
  • 2024 £33,400
  • 2025 Provisional£35,900
↑ 18% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 466 jobs for elementary storage occupations n.e.c. are advertised each month.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026520
Jul 2026564
Jun 2026472
May 2026504
Apr 2026477
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026426
Jan 2026441
Dec 2025214
Nov 2025458
Oct 2025497
Sept 2025550
Aug 2025547
Jul 2025543
Jun 2025552
May 2025582
Apr 2025470
Mar 2025513
Feb 2025522
Jan 2025499
Dec 2024229
Nov 2024483
Oct 2024579
Sept 2024604
Aug 2024607
Jul 2024651
Jun 2024518
May 2024677
Apr 2024517
Mar 2024478
Feb 2024408
Jan 2024477
Dec 2023319
Nov 2023346
Oct 2023414
Sept 2023377
Aug 2023517
Jul 2023541
Jun 2023769
May 2023639
Apr 2023600
Mar 2023773
Feb 2023720
Jan 2023784
Dec 2022594
Nov 2022747
Oct 2022907
Sept 2022853
Aug 2022850
Jul 2022871
Jun 2022828
May 2022955
Apr 2022646
Mar 2022898
Feb 2022831
Jan 2022940
Dec 2021710
Nov 2021820
Oct 2021844
Sept 2021824
Aug 2021771
Jul 2021837
Jun 2021756
May 2021793
Apr 2021679
Mar 2021861
Feb 2021472
Jan 2021536
Dec 2020446
Nov 2020569
Oct 2020675
Sept 2020566
Aug 2020486
Jul 2020407
Jun 2020331
May 2020307
Apr 2020366
Mar 2020691
Feb 2020686
Jan 2020591
Dec 2019412
Nov 2019574
Oct 2019700
Sept 2019676
Aug 2019642
Jul 2019727
Jun 2019706
May 2019722
Apr 2019565
Mar 2019617
Feb 2019634
Jan 2019868
Dec 2018447
Nov 2018646
Oct 2018673
Sept 2018792
Aug 2018768
Jul 2018686
Jun 2018778
May 2018611
Apr 2018618
Mar 2018701
Feb 2018654
Jan 2018703
Dec 2017460
Nov 2017667
Oct 2017695
Sept 2017674
Aug 2017808
Jul 2017811
Jun 2017882
May 2017721
Apr 2017753
Mar 2017790
Feb 2017619
Jan 2017700
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
20%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for elementary storage occupations, which includes elementary storage occupations n.e.c.. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London150
Manchester31
Birmingham24
West Northamptonshire22
North Yorkshire19
North East Lincolnshire18
Thurrock17
City of Edinburgh17
Liverpool17
Bristol, City of16
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where elementary storage occupations n.e.c. are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of elementary storage occupations n.e.c.
n/p
n/p
n/p
26%!
n/p
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–34Not published
35–44Not published
45–5426% (small sample)
55–64Not published
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!38%
A levels or equivalent!33%
GCSEs or equivalent!47%
Other qualifications–
Not published
No qualifications!25%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent38% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent33% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent47% (small sample)
Other qualificationsNot published
No qualifications25% (small sample)

Main employers: service activities incidental to water transportation (18%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
38%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
GCSEs or equivalent
held by 47%
Apprenticeships
1
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
1 year
typically

Routes in

Port operative

You can get into this job through:

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Port Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a port company.

This apprenticeship can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. It combines on-the-job training with learning off site.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Apply directly

You can apply directly to port companies for cargo operations jobs if you've got experience in warehouse work, operating mobile cranes and plant machinery, or driving forklift trucks.

You can also work in passenger operations if you have experience in customer service or travel.

What you’ll need

  • pass a medical check
  • have forklift truck driver training for some jobs

You may need a full driving licence for some port operations roles.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Your employer will put you through port safety training when you start.

Further information

You can find out more about working in ports and harbours from:

  • Associated British Ports
  • Peel Ports Group
  • Port Skills and Safety

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for port operative. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Airport baggage handler

You can get into this job through:

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge that could help you get into this job.

Courses include:

  • aviation
  • exploring the aviation industry

Colleges offering these courses are usually located in towns and cities near to major airports.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship. These include:

  • Aviation Ground Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Aviation Ground Handler Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Aviation Ground Specialist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time at a college or training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Apply directly

There are no specific entry requirements but some employers may prefer you to have some GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), particularly in maths and English.

Experience of warehouse work, forklift training or a large good vehicle (LGV) licence could be useful when applying directly for jobs.

What you’ll need

  • pass security checks
  • be over 18 years of age
  • pass a medical check
  • pass enhanced background checks

You may need your own transport to get to and from the airport, as public transport may not cover all of your shift times. Many jobs ask for a full UK driving licence.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Seasonal work may be available, with large increases in the number of travellers during busy holiday periods.

You can try out virtual work experiences in different aviation industry jobs, including ground services.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for airport baggage handler. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • attaches hoses to ship’s flow connections, starts pump to transfer oil, petroleum or water to and from a ship and uncouples hose system when loading/discharging is complete
  • arranges cargo on quayside or in hold for loading or unloading and selects appropriate hook, chain, rope, sling or other grappling attachment
  • attaches winch or crane hooks, slings, ropes or clamps to load, signals to crane driver to commence lifting, visually checks that load is balanced and ensures that route is clear for movement
  • removes grappling attachment from cargo and stows cargo in hold or loads cargo on to transport or into warehouses
  • directs the movement and operation of vehicles, such as lorries and cranes, on site
  • x-rays cargo

Skills

  • lift heavy weights
  • use different communication channels
  • apply techniques for stacking goods into containers
  • implement efficiency plans for logistics operations
  • operate forklift
  • dispatch order processing
  • stack goods
  • tolerate stress
  • accommodate cargo in freight transport vehicle
  • adapt to changing situations
  • analyse supply chain strategies
  • climb on railcars
  • ensure public safety and security
  • follow stock control instructions

Knowledge

  • freight transport methods
  • safety regulations for warehouses
  • health and safety measures in transportation
  • international regulations for cargo handling
  • national regulations on handling cargo
  • products coding system

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for elementary administration and service occupations, a group of 26 jobs that includes elementary storage occupations n.e.c..
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 1.5%about 48,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 20351.5 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.