Supply chain salaries holding up

    
    Practitioners report pay raises, though results vary by region. Breakfast
    briefing on November 26 will analyze the trends
    

TORONTO , Nov. 5 /CNW/ - Supply chain salaries are faring better than expected through the economic downturn. The 2009 PMAC/Purchasingb2b/MM&D Salary Survey, sponsored by MERX, revealed an average salary of $78,100 , compared to $76,430 in 2008.

Though results vary by industry, more than half (56 per cent) of respondents reported a salary increase this year. The average pay hike was 3.1 per cent.

The survey, conducted in July 2009 , involved 1,929 supply chain practitioners from the membership of the Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) and the circulation lists of Purchasingb2b and MM&D magazines.

In a trend repeated every year, there's a direct correlation between professional designations and higher salaries. Holders of the C.P.P. (Certified Professional Purchaser) designation earn an average of $89,300 , compared to $73,450 for non-holders.

"Business leaders are recognizing the competitive advantage of strategic supply chain management," said Bob Dye , president of PMAC. "Therefore, we are likely to see further increases in the salaries paid to accredited professionals, such as ours, who have this unique and valuable expertise."

Despite the upward trend in salaries, the gains aren't equal across all regions or sectors. Ontario, for example, saw only a minor increase ( $77,900 compared to $77,640 earned in 2008) - most likely a reflection of the province's decline in the manufacturing sector.

    
    The survey also found the following trends:

    -  British Columbia was the only province to report a decline in average
       salaries ($74,900 versus $78,029 in 2008);
    -  The gender gap isn't narrowing. Male supply chain practitioners earn
       an average $83,600, compared to $69,900 for their female counterparts;
    -  Education is highly valued in this field: 70 percent of respondents
       say they must further their education/professional development in
       order to advance in their careers;
    -  The average respondent is 44 years old, with just over 15 years
       experience, and supervises an average of five people;
    -  Natural resources is still the highest-paid sector ($90,800) though
       the figure is down from the $92,889 earned in 2008;
    -  Manufacturing salaries dropped this year ($71,600 compared to $71,744
       in 2008);
    -  Education salaries are also down ($71,300 versus $71,445);
    -  Services saw a sizeable gain ($83,300 versus $76,002 in 2008).
    

PMAC, Purchasingb2b and MM&D will host a breakfast briefing in Toronto November 26 , to discuss the survey and career trends in more detail. All supply chain managers, recruitment and human resource personnel are invited to attend. For registration, visit www.pmac.ca/salarybriefing.

About PMAC

The Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) is the leading professional association in Canada for supply chain management professionals. With more than 40,000 members and program participants working in all sectors of the Canadian economy, PMAC is the principal source of training, education and professional development for supply chain management professionals in Canada . The highest achievement in professional supply chain management education in Canada is the Certified Professional Purchaser (C.P.P.) designation.

About Purchasingb2b

The mission of Purchasingb2b is to keep the Canadian supply chain management professional informed of the issues and developments shaping the profession as it confronts rapid technological change and plays an increasingly important role in building competitive organizations. Purchasingb2b covers management issues, sector-by-sector trends and legal issues, offering up-to-date news, expert commentary and profiles of Canadian supply chain professionals.

About MM&D

MM&D is Canada's pre-eminent supply chain management magazine with a mandate to help readers do their jobs more cost-effectively. MM&D shows readers how to improve productivity, competitiveness and profitability. MM&D's solution-oriented editorial approach covers the movement, storage and control of materials, products and information. MM&D reaches Canada's leading supply chain decision-makers.

For further information: Media Contacts: Sharon Ferriss, vice-president, public affairs and communications, PMAC, [phone], [email protected]; Lisa Wichmann, editor, Purchasingb2b, [phone], [email protected]; Emily Atkins, editor-in-chief, MM&D, [phone], [email protected]