Career Trends: Logisticians

Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain—the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is acquired, distributed, allocated, and delivered.

Logisticians work in nearly every industry. The job can be stressful because logistical work is fast-paced. Most logisticians work full time during regular business hours.

A bachelor’s degree is typically required for most positions, although an associate’s degree may be sufficient for some logistician jobs.

Employment of logisticians is projected to grow 2 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by the need for logistics in the transportation of goods in a global economy. Growth will be moderated, however, because this occupation is concentrated in government and manufacturing, both of which are projected to decline.

This occupation supported 125,900 jobs in 2012 and 130,400 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 3.6%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 22.0% in 2022 to 153,600 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 131,400, compared with an observed value of 130,400, 0.8% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 2.0% in 2024 to 132,900 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 159,100 jobs for 2024, 19.7% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.