What Is the Supply Chain Talent Shortage?

The success or failure of many businesses can often come down to supply chain management. From sourcing materials to assembly and distribution, businesses both large and small can find themselves struggling to earn a profit as small losses add up along the way.

With the business landscape constantly changing and companies adapting to challenges like evolving international trade laws or the rise of online sales, finding skilled supply chain managers able to take on the role has become increasingly more difficult.

Many industries are facing a supply chain talent shortage, resulting in more available jobs for supply chain managers than candidates qualified to fill them. As many businesses are actively seeking qualified candidates, pursuing a degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Supply Chain Management can help future graduates capitalize on the supply chain shortage and build the skills required to help organizations achieve success.

What Is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management encompasses the systems a business establishes to manage its flow of goods and services. These systems range from sourcing raw materials to the sales and distribution of the final product, with each step in the supply chain needing to be as efficient as possible for the business to turn a profit. Supply chain managers are the individuals who oversee these systems, looking at both the bigger picture and analyzing operating costs to make the entire chain as effective and productive as possible.

Phases of Supply Chain Management

While every business and industry has different requirements, typically, supply chain management can be divided into five main phases:

Planning: Clear and concise planning lays the groundwork for a supply chain, matching supply with demand and predicting what will be required to meet future trends.
Sourcing: The accumulation of individual materials and product costs can sink a business if it doesn’t choose its components wisely or for the correct price. Supply chain shortages can make it difficult for companies to closely monitor these costs or make time to build partnerships with the right vendors.
Manufacturing: The assembly or transformation of raw materials into the desired product is the phase in the supply chain in which a business’s design comes to life.
Delivery: Delivery is a key element in turning a profit — once an item is sold, it must reach the hands of the consumer. The delivery phase of a supply chain ensures the timely and cost-effective transport of a product.
Returns: A reality of business is that not all products or services will meet customer expectations. An efficient returns process is key to long-term customer satisfaction.

Experienced supply chain managers can have a significant impact on a company’s success, helping it achieve profit goals and control market share. For many companies, however, the supply chain shortage means it’s hard to find talented individuals able to optimize their businesses.

Key Statistics: How Severe Is the Supply Chain Shortage?

A supply chain shortage can have a far-reaching impact, affecting individual businesses and industries as a whole. With the rise of online sales and the growing pressure for companies to deliver in record time, any hiccup in the supply chain can have a domino effect and send costs skyrocketing across an entire business sector. For modern supply chain management professionals, the challenge of not only optimizing current systems but also finding new and innovative ways to adapt to changes within an industry can be both difficult and rewarding.

With the widespread shortage of supply chain management professionals continuing to grow, as reported by Hathaway Worldwide, the global supply chain has gone from being the foundation of modern business to being one of its most prominent challenges. Skilled professionals educated in managing complex chains, overcoming disruptions and keeping goods flowing are critical, but there are simply not enough of them. Evolving international trade regulations are further complicating an already stretched-thin supply chain.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of logisticians is projected to grow by 17% between 2024 and 2034, with nearly 26,400 openings on average each year over the decade. These statistics make investing in growing the talent pool essential to the success of multiple industries.

With the right training and experience, supply chain managers can help businesses become top performers. Using contemporary innovations, companies have an opportunity to make their products more ethical and environmentally friendly, increase efficiency while cutting costs and find new ways to eliminate barriers between a product and the consumer.

How to Become a Supply Chain Manager

Candidates from various backgrounds can work toward a successful career in supply chain management. While industry experience is invaluable, higher education, such as a bachelor’s degree specializing in supply chain management, can be a great first step for future management leaders and career changers.

Depending on the industry, the knowledge required to tailor management systems can look quite different, making background knowledge of a company’s business sector an important step in supply chain management. In some cases, the supply chain talent shortage may also open up opportunities for candidates to gain workplace experience while pursuing their education, with some companies choosing to invest in the right person to ensure that they understand the nuances of their field.

What Skills Are Supply Chain Employers Looking For?

Those considering working in logistics and supply chain roles — particularly those who wish to work in management and leadership — should develop a wide range of skills. Some of the most important skills for the field include the following:

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Supply chain professionals should be familiar with the most powerful tools in the industry, including Microsoft Power BI, SAP Analytics Cloud and Tableau.
Sustainability: Supply chain talent must be well versed in sustainability as it applies to products, packaging and transportation.
Digital Transformation: Blockchain, Internet-of-Things (IoT) tools and digital twins are essential in today’s increasingly complex supply chains, as they vastly improve accuracy and efficiency. Digital transformation includes gathering real-time statistics, leveraging data for marketing purposes and ensuring that transactions are transparent.
Crisis Communication: Reducing downtime by aligning communication ensures that businesses can recover more quickly from missed shipments or other supply chain crises.
Negotiation: In the modern market, very few businesses still rely on rigid long-term contracts. Instead, they focus on adaptable partnerships and relationships with companies and suppliers. As a result, when markets change, so can deliverables, timelines and pricing.
Change Leadership: Change can be difficult for workers in long-established lines of command. Professionals skilled in change leadership communicate clearly, offer effective training and deliver quick successes designed to help overcome resistance to change.

Capitalize on the Supply Chain Shortage With a Career in Management

Industries of all sizes rely on talented supply chain managers to help them operate effectively and meet consumer demand. From initial concept and raw materials to final product, proper supply chain management can make all the difference in a company’s success. As the supply chain talent shortage grows, ample opportunity exists for talented managers to make their mark.

For future leaders in supply chain management, higher education can be a key stepping stone to success. Programs such as the App State Online BSBA in Supply Chain Management prepare graduates for the real-world challenges of a career in business.

An online program that focuses on the practical skills required to become a key player in the domestic and global economy, the BSBA from App State Online is designed to equip students with the knowledge they need to succeed.

Discover how you can capitalize on the supply chain talent shortage and build a career in management.

Recommended Readings

Active Learning and Tech Transformation: Wisdom from Dr. Krista Wojdak

Supply Chain Planning: What Is It and How Does It Work?

What Are a Distribution Manager’s Responsibilities?

Sources:

Association for Supply Chain Management, “The 10 Highest-Paying Supply Chain Jobs”

Edstellar, “Essential Skills for Supply Chain Managers”

Hathaway Worldwide, Global Supply Chain Hiring in 2025: What the Talent Shortage Really Means for Businesses

IBM, “What Is Supply Chain Management?”

Indeed, What Is Supply Chain Management and Why Is It Important?

Investopedia, “Understanding Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Its Importance”