Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
SOC: 13-1022.00 · Job Zone 3 (Medium preparation)
Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.
AI Impact Summary
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 38/100. Significant displacement is estimated between 2041 and 2051. Of 20 analyzed tasks, 5 are highly automatable, particularly in routine_cognitive. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 24.6%
Skill Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (7)
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (5)
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Negotiation
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Task Breakdown
20 tasks analyzed
Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number.
Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices.
Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns and determine what the company will sell and how much inventory is needed.
Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
Train or supervise sales or clerical staff.
Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run.
Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media.
Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise.
Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions.
Compare transportation options to determine the most energy efficient options.
Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers.
Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers.
Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products.
| Task | Category | AI Capability | Risk Score | Time % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers. | Routine Cognitive | 80 | 81.2 | 10% |
| Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 35 | 29.0 | 10% |
| Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 20 | 23.0 | 5% |
| Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness. | Non-Routine Analytical | 60 | 51.0 | 10% |
| Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number. | Routine Cognitive | 90 | 85.2 | 3% |
| Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices. | Non-Routine Analytical | 70 | 55.0 | 5% |
| Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 20 | 23.0 | 5% |
| Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise. | Routine Cognitive | 90 | 85.2 | 5% |
| Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns and determine what the company will sell and how much inventory is needed. | Non-Routine Analytical | 70 | 55.0 | 10% |
| Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 15 | 21.0 | 5% |
| Train or supervise sales or clerical staff. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 15 | 21.0 | 4% |
| Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield. | Non-Routine Analytical | 40 | 43.0 | 5% |
| Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run. | Non-Routine Analytical | 65 | 53.0 | 4% |
| Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media. | Routine Cognitive | 90 | 85.2 | 4% |
| Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 15 | 21.0 | 3% |
| Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions. | Non-Routine Analytical | 60 | 51.0 | 3% |
| Compare transportation options to determine the most energy efficient options. | Routine Cognitive | 90 | 85.2 | 2% |
| Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers. | Non-Routine Analytical | 60 | 51.0 | 3% |
| Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers. | Non-Routine Analytical | 60 | 51.0 | 2% |
| Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products. | Non-Routine Analytical | 65 | 53.0 | 2% |
Community Assessment
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