Partner Article

Procurement sector hungry for workers

The procurement sector has experienced significant demand for recruitment over the course of the past year.

Research compiled by Hays Procurement and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & supply (CIPS) show that the number of procurement and supply chain job vacancies had risen by 33% in Q2 2011, compared with the same period in 2010.

Vacancies for procurement officers increased most sharply (200%) followed by senior buyers (110%) and procurement managers (75%).

While traditionally the majority of procurement jobs remain within private sector companies, there was a marked increase in the number of public sector vacancies, with an average of 29% in the first two quarters of 2011.

The highest concentration of job vacancies is in the South East, at 22%, and London, at 18%, followed by the Midlands and South West, both at 12%.

Automotive manufacturing jobs showed the strongest growth, up an average of 73% per quarter in the first half of the year.

60% of respondents to the CIPS/Supply Management Profile of the Profession Survey, earlier this year said their salary had increased in the past 2 years.

The number of jobs with salaries between £75,000 and £100,000 had risen by 35% in the first half of 2011.

David Noble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, said: “The financial crisis and continuing uncertainties weighing on the global economy, have led many companies to review their business strategies and to expand parts of their operations that ultimately help them to reduce costs and ensure the sustainability of future growth.

“Meanwhile, recent scrutiny of government procurement strategies has led to more strategic employment in the sector.”

Hays’ findings also suggest there may be comparatively attractive opportunities as well as higher demand for candidates, as supply chain jobs attract 20 applicants on average, compared to 30 for human resources jobs, and 31 for non-qualified finance jobs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .