Procurement and supply chain jobs up 22% in the UK

The latest research from the Robert Walters UK Jobs Index has revealed that that the number of procurement and supply chain job vacancies in the UK has risen by 22% in the second quarter of 2017.

Despite political and economic uncertainty surrounding the general election earlier this year, employers have remained active in sourcing procurement and supply chain specialists across a range of industries.

“We have seen a steady increase in demand for procurement and supply chain professionals over the past few years as employers have come to recognise the important value that can be delivered by highly skilled professionals in these roles,” said Neil Morgan, Associate Director at Robert Walters.

Economic change and its impact on supply chain specialists

The weakness of the pound relative to other currencies has benefitted manufacturers across the UK, increasing demand for their products abroad.

This, in turn, has driven demand for supply chain specialists as exporters look to capitalise on this opportunity and ensure that their supply chains are as efficient as possible.  

“Britain’s preparations for leaving the EU have placed an additional sense of urgency on securing top talent in these fields. With new trade relationships likely to develop, employers are acutely aware that adapting their supply chain and procurement strategies will be essential to achieving success,” added Neil Morgan.

Britain’s preparations for leaving the EU have placed an additional sense of urgency on securing top talent in these fields.

As employers increasingly come to recognise the importance of efficient supply chains in achieving a profitable export network, professionals with the ability to build and implement these strategies are highly sought after.

Given the shortage of candidates with this in demand skill set, employers have to compete to secure top talent, moving quickly to make a job offer as well as offering generous salaries and benefit packages.

“As a result, with exporters enjoying a buoyant period, supply chain professionals with a background in developing international supply networks are highly sought after in the current economy,” concluded Neil Morgan.

As we approach the end of the year we can still see a strong growth in supply chain recruitment, where the roles available in the market place compared to last year are 15% higher, and the main driver being e-commerce. The demand for strong logistics/supply chain talent continues to outweigh supply, as employers explore how they can access new markets and establish efficient supply chain processes following Britain’s departure of the EU.