The National Association of Purchasing Management recently released a demographic report of its members. Interesting statistics, based on the 8,673 responses, include:

Gender: 61.6 percent are male, 38.4 percent are female.

Ethnic origin: white, 89.0 percent; African-American, 2.9; Hispanic, 2.6; Native American, 1.8; Asian, 1.3.

Age: 25 and under, 1.3 percent; 26 to 35, 13.8; 36 to 45, 33.2; 46 to 55, 38.2; 56 and above, 13.5.

Education (highest achieved): High school graduate, 5.4 percent; some college, 28.0; bachelor’s degree, 38.0; some graduate school, 10.3; graduate degree, 16.1; post-graduate degree, 2.2.

College major: Purchasing, 5.0 percent; business (not purchasing), 57.7; liberal arts, 14.3; engineering/technology, 9.8; other, 13.2.

Title: Manager of purchasing/supply/materials, 32.0 percent; buyer/senior buyer, 26.2; purchasing agent, 12.3; director/VP of purchasing/supply/materials, 12.0; other, 17.5.

Years worked in purchasing and supply management: less than 3 years, 6.4 percent; 3 to 8, 20.8; 9 to 15, 28.0; 16 to 24, 28.3; 25 or more, 16.5.

Annual compensation: less than $30,000, 4.4 percent; $30,001-$55,000, 44.2; $55,001-$85,000, 36.8; $85,001-$100,000, 7.5; over $100,000, 7.1.

Amount of annual purchasing buy: under $50,000, 6.3 percent; $500,001-$10.9 million, 40.9; $11 million-$39.9 million, 29.5; $40 million-$100 million; 13.1; over $100 million, 10.2.

Also, 50.4 percent of respondents work in the manufacturing sector.

A total of 40.4 hold a Certified Purchasing Manager certification; and 17.7 percent hold an Accredited Purchasing Practitioner certificate.

MRO Today. Copyright, 2001.

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