The New Zealand Government has released the results of its first-ever Procurement Workforce Survey, revealing nearly 70 percent of respondents entered procurement during the middle of their careers.
Conducted to build a clearer picture of people working in procurement across the public sector – including how they enter the profession, what skills they need and the challenges they face – the survey garnered 153 responses from 76 organisations, with almost half (48 percent) of respondents holding managerial responsibilities.
Highlighting the need for targeted procurement training to support those transitioning into the field mid-career, the report also revealed that ethnic diversity remains low, particularly among Māori and Pasifika peoples.
Over half of respondents said they have more than five years of procurement experience, with many having held multiple roles within the profession, while a similar number (58 percent) reported being satisfied in their roles.
Remuneration was the most valued factor, particularly among mid-career professionals, followed by supportive management, positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
When it comes to recruitment trends, staffing pressures were shown to vary across agencies, with 55 percent of managers reporting no current staffing shortages, yet many anticipated future needs.
Just over two-thirds (42 percent) said they expect to need between one and four additional full-time equivalents over the next year, with 35 percent predicting the need for five or more.
The majority of hires (70 percent) come from outside the organisation itself, which the report says reflects the specialist nature of procurement roles and the popularity of flat team structures.
Finally, respondents identified a range of learning priorities, with artificial intelligence, procurement tools, innovation, market analysis and dispute resolution coming out on top.
Despite this, nearly half of managers said there were no specific skills gaps within their teams. However, where gaps were identified, they were most commonly found in procurement practices and digital skills.
