Supply Chain and Operations Hiring expected to be up in 2011.
Press Release Summary:
According to fourth quarter 2010 installment of the Operations Management Employment Outlook report, 64% of survey respondents with hiring responsibility anticipate new employees within the next 12 months, up from 48% in 2009. This high level of expected hiring, when combined with 50% decrease in expected layoffs, indicates highest level of net job growth in the operations and supply chain management professions since global recession began.
Original Press Release:
Supply Chain and Operations Expected Hiring Up Significantly in 2011, Finds APICS Employment Outlook; Aligns with Most Recent US Labor Department Jobs Report
Promising data from Operations Management Employment Outlook report show high
level of expected hiring and low level of expected layoffs-highest net job growth in
operations and supply chain management since global recession began
Chicago, Ill. - APICS The Association for Operations Management and the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington announced today the fourth quarter 2010 installment of the Operations Management Employment Outlook report. Fourth quarter results show 64 percent of survey respondents with hiring responsibility anticipate engaging new employees within the next 12 months. In 2009, only 48 percent indicated anticipated hiring.
This high level of expected hiring, when combined with a 50 percent decrease in expected layoffs (from 14 percent in 2009 to 7 percent in the fourth quarter report), indicates the highest level of net job growth in the operations and supply chain management professions since the global recession began.
"Throughout 2010, we saw incremental improvements in expected hiring in the operations and supply chain management professions," said APICS chief executive officer Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. "This significant increase in expected hiring and decrease in expected layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2010, which have manifested themselves in the most recent US Labor Department jobs report, are cause for optimism that 2011 may see increased job creation-at the highest level since the global recession began."
Further, 49 percent of survey respondents with hiring responsibility are planning to hire within one or more of the following operational areas: execution and control of operations, purchasing/customer relationship management, quality, resources planning, and supply chain management.
"Often, supply chain and operations management are a bellwether for the global economy as a whole. Increased expected hiring at this level across job functions has positive implications for a variety of sectors, including manufacturing," said Drew Rosen, professor of operations management at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and a member of the research team. "This quarter's results are very promising for professionals seeking employment."
Employment Outlook data show demand for employees with "soft skills"-in addition to
technical skills. Supply chain and operations management professionals who possess well developed oral and written communication skills and customer service skills, in addition to, the following operations knowledge, will fair best in the hiring process, according to the fourth quarter report.
The entire report is available to APICS members at apics.org/research. Members of the media may request a full report from Rebecca Balliet, senior marketing manager, at rballiet@apics.org. Statistics are available based on gender, age, bonus, certification status, and geographic location. A condensed public version also is available.
APICS The Association for Operations Management is the global leader and premier source
of the body of knowledge in supply chain and operations management, including production, inventory, supply chain, and materials management, as well as purchasing and logistics. Since 1957, individuals and companies have relied on APICS for its superior training, internationally recognized certifications, comprehensive resources, and worldwide network of accomplished industry professionals. Visit apics.org for information.
