Careers in the Supply Chain & Transportation cluster span the life cycle of a product—from sourcing raw materials to be used in manufacturing, to managing inventory of finished products; from coordinating logistics networks to maintaining the vehicles used to transport goods.
Important skills for workers in this cluster include data analysis and interpretation, negotiation – with suppliers, customers, and contracts—and the ability to problem solve under pressure.
Some careers in this cluster typically require a high school diploma, such as vehicle cleaners, couriers and messengers, parking attendants, packers and packagers, freight and stock movers.
Most careers in this cluster require short-term training–from a few months to about two years— including taxi, bus, or shuttle drivers, auto service technicians and auto body repairers, boat mechanics, civil or mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, purchasing agents, procurement clerks, and vehicle inspectors.
Careers that usually require a bachelor’s degree include industrial production managers, logisticians, avionics technicians, aerospace engineering technologists and technicians, and managers of transportation, storage and distribution.
Some careers in this cluster require a graduate degree or years of experience, such as airline pilots, air traffic controllers, urban and regional planners, ship or marine engineers, and ship captains.
Is a career in Supply Chain & Transportation for you? Keep these points in mind:
- Because they are needed by almost all industries, careers in this cluster generally offer consistently strong hiring demand and competitive pay.
- It’s often possible to move into supervisory or management roles after starting in an entry-level position.
- Unexpected weather and natural disasters, political events, and trade policy changes can disrupt supply chains, cause delays, and create high stress levels for workers.
- Maintaining work-life balance can be a challenge in transportation careers with long hours and inconsistent schedules.
Whatever your career direction, you can find options that fit. Keep exploring at CareerOneStop.org/ExploreCareers