Stock Clerks

Little change or no employment growth is anticipated for stock clerks through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Increased automation and other productivity improvements that enable clerks to handle more stock will lead to fewer opportunities in some industries, such as manufacturing and wholesale trade, which are making the greatest use of automation. In addition to computerized inventory control systems, firms in these industries are expected to rely more on sophisticated conveyor belts, automatic high stackers to store and retrieve goods, radio frequency identification tags (which allow clerks to count or find an item or inventory more quickly than in the past), and automatic guided vehicles that are battery-powered and driverless. Sales-floor stock clerks in grocery stores and department stores will probably be less affected by automation than clerks employed in manufacturing, as most of their work is difficult to automate. Stock clerks have also been deemed essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. While many businesses and employees have been in lock-down, stock clerks continue to be needed to ensure goods are stocked and available to fulfill customers' orders.