Employment of purchasing agents and buyers is expected to decline by 7 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Employment of purchasing managers will grow by 4 percent during the same time period.
"Projected employment declines of buyers and purchasing agents are expected due to increased automation and outsourcing of some procurement tasks," the DOL explains. "As procurement technology continues to improve, less complex procurement functions, such as finding suppliers or processing purchase orders, will likely be automated. In addition, some organizations may rely on third parties to handle other tasks, such as market research or supplier risk assessments. Organizations may outsource these functions in order to focus on more complex or strategic procurement tasks and to reduce costs."
While the outlook is better for purchasing managers, there are fewer available positions in this category compared to purchasing agents.
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