Employment of material recording clerks is projected to grow 3 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will vary by occupation (see table below).
Although the increase in the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags should allow stock clerks to more quickly locate an item or count inventory in some retail stores, stocking shelves and filling orders will still require these workers.
In warehouses, both RFID tags and increased use of other technology, such as hand-held devices that read barcodes automatically, will affect shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks because these technologies should make it easier to keep track of material. The use of these technologies is expected to allow fewer clerks to do the same amount of work.
Technologies, such as barcodes, electronic and optical readers, and RFID tags, are expected to increase accuracy in shipping, thereby reducing the number of times a product needs to be weighed, checked, or measured. This reduction is expected to limit employment of material and product inspecting clerks.
Production, planning, and expediting clerks plan and schedule production and shipment processes, functions that remain difficult to substitute with technology.
Job Prospects
Job opportunities for material recording clerks will be very good because of the need to replace workers who leave these occupations. The increase in the use of RFID and other technologies will enable clerks who have experience using them to have better job prospects.
Material Recording Clerks
Percent change in employment, projected 2014-24
Total, all occupations
7%
Material recording clerks
3%
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers
-1%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program