Purchasing Managers

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Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents held about 527,400 jobs in 2008. About 42 percent worked in the wholesale trade and manufacturing industries. Opportunities should be best for those with a college degree in engineering, business, economics, or one of the applied sciences.

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Employment
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents held about 527,400 jobs in 2008. About 42 percent worked in the wholesale trade and manufacturing industries and another 10 percent worked in retail trade. The remainder worked mostly in service establishments, such as management of companies and enterprises or professional, scientific, and technical services. A small number were self-employed. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment by occupational specialty:

Purchasing agents,except wholesale,retail,and farm products - 295,200
Wholesale and retail buyers,except farm products - 147,700
Purchasing Managers - 70,300
Purchasing agents and buyers,farm products - 14,100

Job Outlook
Overall employment of Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents is expected to increase 7 percent during the 2008-18 decade, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products—the largest employment group in the industry—will experience faster than average growth as more companies demand a greater number of purchased goods and services. Additionally, large companies are increasing the size of their purchasing departments to accommodate purchasing services contracts from smaller companies.

Also, many purchasing agents are now charged with procuring services that traditionally had been done in-house, such as computer and IT (information technology) support in addition to traditionally contracted services such as advertising. Nonetheless, demand for workers may be somewhat limited by technological improvements such as software that has eliminated much of the paperwork involved in ordering and procuring supplies, and the growing number of purchases being made electronically through the Internet and electronic data interchange (EDI). Demand will also be limited by offshoring of routine purchasing actions to other countries.

Employment is expected to have little or no change. The use of the Internet to conduct electronic commerce has made information easier to obtain, thus increasing the productivity of purchasing managers. The Internet also allows both large and small companies to bid on contracts. Exclusive supply contracts and long-term contracting have allowed companies to negotiate with fewer suppliers less frequently. Still, purchasing managers will be needed to oversee large consolidated purchasing networks, thus spurring some employment growth.

Education and Qualifications
Workers may begin as trainees, purchasing clerks, junior buyers, or assistant buyers. Most employers prefer to hire applicants who have a college degree and who are familiar with the merchandise they sell and with wholesaling and retailing practices. Prospects often need continuing education or certification to advance.

Educational requirements tend to vary with the size of the organization. Large stores and distributors prefer applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree program with a business emphasis. Many manufacturing firms put an even greater emphasis on formal training, preferring applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, business, economics, or one of the applied sciences. A master's degree is essential for advancement to many top-level purchasing manager jobs.

Persons who have a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, economics, or one of the applied sciences should have the best chance of obtaining a buyer position. Industry experience and knowledge of a technical field will be an advantage for those interested in working for a manufacturing or industrial company. Government agencies and larger companies usually require a master's degree in business or public administration for top-level purchasing positions. Most managers need experience in their respective field.

Earnings in May 2008
Median annual wages of Purchasing Managers were $89,160.
Median annual wages of purchasing agents and buyers of farm products were $49,670.
Median annual wages of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, were $48,710.
Median annual wages of purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products, were $53,940.

Purchasing Managers Related Information

The Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM)
Founded in 1915, the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is the largest supply management association in the world as well as one of the most respected. ISM’s mission is to lead the supply management profession through its standards of excellence, research, promotional activities, and education. ISM’s membership base includes more than 34,000 supply management professionals with a network of domestic and international affiliated associations. ISM is a not-for-profit association that provides opportunities for the promotion of the profession and the expansion of professional skills and knowledge.

The American Purchasing Society
The American Purchasing Society is a professional association of buyers and purchasing managers and was the first organization to establish certification for buyers and purchasing professionals. Join those who have improved their careers by earning the American Purchasing Society's purchasing certification recognition. Become a Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP), a Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM), and/or a Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant (CPPC) today.

Accountemps
Accountemps is the world's first and largest specialized temporary staffing company for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Accountemps provides support throughout an accounting department. Accountemps offers outstanding temporary job opportunities at all experience levels.

Source Information: Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.org

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