Sales Careers Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, wage and salary jobs in the wholesale trade are expected to grow about 8 percent through 2014, which is slower than the average for all industries combined. Industry trends in the next decade will include consolidation into larger firms and the spread of new technology, both of which should slow growth in some occupations.
Heightened competition and pressure to lower operating costs should continue to force mergers. The result will be reduced demand for some workers. More jobs should be available in customer services as consolidation and competition encourage expansion of these services. There also will be employment opportunities for workers in financial, logistical, technical, and advertising positions.
Electronic commerce and other types of new technology are expected to affect employment, particularly administrative support and marketing and sales positions. Those jobs are expected to decline as computer technology improves worker productivity. Much of the record keeping, ordering, and processing in wholesaling will be automated, as will inventory management and shipping. E-commerce will lessen the need for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. E-commerce will also affect sales workers. Inside sales workers’ jobs will become more technology-dependent as they use computers to track inventory, solicit new business, and provide customer service. Outside sales workers’ jobs will focus more on customer service.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that employment for retail sales workers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014 due to anticipated growth in retail sales created by a growing population. There will continue to be many opportunities for part-time and temporary workers during peak selling periods. However, during economic downturns, sales decline and the demand for sales workers also declines.
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