Study: Millennials see supply chain as an opportunity for growth

Dive Brief:

Millennials are enthusiastically engaged in and embracing of a career in supply chain management, according to a report by APICS, Business Wire reported. Also according to the study, the supply chain profession is becoming a rewarding and in-demand long-term career choice for professionals in their 20s and 30s.
More millennials are beginning their career in the supply chain, change jobs less frequently and are highly satisfied with opportunities for advancement in the field. However, career growth is also marked by an increasing disparity in pay between male and female workers, as their respective careers advance.
Of those millennials surveyed, 81% believe in their own ability to make a difference in the supply chain field, while 87% think that it will provide personal growth and development. Advancement is expected, as 88% agree there are opportunities for matriculation.

Dive Insight:

With millennials expected to fill the shoes of retiring supply chain employees, it's no surprise that there's a sudden surge of data on how they perform and find fulfillment in their career paths.

Drawing the attention of millennials to the advantages of working within the supply chain has been historically challenging and requires the active use of updated communication strategies, such as leveraging social media channels including Twitter and other medium. Though some employers generally avoid hiring millennials out of a preference for more experienced workers, they're likely to find themselves out in the cold in the near future, as older employees retire and may leave up to 3.5 million unfilled positions by 2020.

The good news is that millennials are showing an affinity for working in the supply chain. CSCMP's recent survey cites 81% of under-30 staffers describing their work as a good career choice, with which the APICS study is in agreement. However, one area where the two surveys differ is in regards to position dedication and stability: 32% of CSCMP's respondents said higher wages or new development opportunities could cause them to leave their current position, with 27% reporting that a salary or benefits upgrade alone would be enough to lure them away.

APICS, on the other hand, notes that 68% of millennial workers within the supply chain have spent three or more years there, with 45% possessing five to 15 years of experience. Further, 38% of millennials in the supply chain have worked for just one employer their entire career, while another 31% have worked for only two employers.