The Impact of Business and Management Skills on Applied Logistics Skills. A PLS-SEM Approach in Accordance with ELAQF

Human capital in the logistics sector operates in an environment characterised by complexity, uncertainty, and accelerated digitisation, where professional skills are becoming essential for the efficient functioning of supply chains.Based on the Level 4 structure of the European Logistics Association Qualifications Framework (ELAQF), this research analyses the impact of business and management skills on the applied logistics skills of logistics and SCM specialists.The study uses data collected from 339 professionals in Romania and applies the Partial Least Squares -Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method to validate the conceptual model.The results highlight positive and significant relationships between business and management skills and applied logistics skills, confirming the relevance of the ELAQF structure as a tool for assessing human capital in logistics.The model has adequate predictive power, and the conclusions suggest practical directions for designing professional development programmes and aligning employee competencies with the operational requirements of supply chains.Future research should extend the analysis to the international level and include objective indicators for the multidimensional validation of applied logistics competencies.