Survey: Young Professionals Find Happiness in Supply Chain Careers

READING, Pa. - September 25, 2017 — What do young professionals want from their career? Penske Logistics and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) sought to answer this question in the inaugural "2018 CSCMP/Penske Young Professionals Survey." Surveying nearly 300 supply chain professionals under age 30, Penske and CSCMP discovered that the opportunity for interesting work as well as development and advancement topped the list of requirements for young professionals.


The average young professional responding to the survey has worked in the supply chain industry for about three years and is employed by a third-party logistics, manufacturing, or transportation and warehousing company.

Additionally, the survey uncovered the following:

  • 81 percent of respondents strongly agree that the supply chain is a good career choice
  • 86 percent of respondents said they are either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their current employer
  • 76 percent would describe their work as satisfying, 67 percent said rewarding, and 60 percent said exciting
  • 71 percent agree that it’s easy to advance in the field
  • The majority said they prefer in-person training, delivered through mentoring or task-based activities

"Like many industries, talent acquisition is a top priority for us and finding motivated young professionals who are eager to work in the supply chain is paramount," said Andy Moses, senior vice president of global products at Penske Logistics. "Learning that diversity of work, in-person mentoring and career advancement are important to this demographic reinforces the work we are doing to recruit and retain top young talent here at Penske."

"CSCMP has made a significant investment in our Young Professionals Committee, and our young professional members. We believe that young professionals represent the next generation of supply chain leaders as they are critical to maintaining relevancy as a professional society and a supply chain community," said Rick Blasgen, president and chief executive officer, CSCMP.

About Penske Logistics
Penske Logistics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penske Truck Leasing. With operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, Penske Logistics provides supply chain management and logistics services to leading companies around the world. Penske Logistics delivers value through its design, planning and execution in transportation, warehousing and freight management. To learn more visit www.penskelogistics.com.

About CSCMP
Since 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has been the leading worldwide professional association dedicated to education, research, and the advancement of the supply chain management profession. With more than 9,000 members globally, representing business, government, and academia from 62 countries, CSCMP members are the leading practitioners and authorities in the fields of logistics and supply chain management. To learn more, visit www.cscmp.org.