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Procurement category specialist

Also called market specialist, supply specialist, category specialist

Procurement category specialists are experts in specific markets and contract types and provide advanced knowledge of a particular category of supplies, services or works. They help internal or external clients to increase value for money and end users' satisfaction through their advanced knowledge of the suppliers and their offering.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Policy administration professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Policy administration professionals · ILO
  • Liaising and consulting with programme administrators and other interested parties to identify policy needs
  • Reviewing existing policies and legislation to identify anomalies and out-of-date provisions
  • Researching social, economic and industrial trends, and client expectations of programmes and services provided
  • Formulating and analysing policy options, preparing briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes, and advising on preferred options
  • Assessing impacts, financial implications, interactions with other programmes and political and administrative feasibility of policies
  • Conducting threat and risk assessments and developing responses
  • Reviewing operations and programmes to ensure consistency with policies of the organization
Draft procurement technical specificationsDevelop performance orientation in public administrationManage procurement planningPerform procurement market analysisAssess procurement needs+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the similar US job "Procurement Clerks"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of policy administration professionals, 4 a surplus.
Policy administration professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in wholesale and retail sales is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Wholesale and retail sales · Management and administration
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.42 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Researching social, economic and industrial trends, and client expectations of programmes and services provided0.50
Formulating and analysing policy options, preparing briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes, and advising on preferred options0.44
Conducting threat and risk assessments and developing responses0.43
Reviewing operations and programmes to ensure consistency with policies of the organization0.43
Reviewing existing policies and legislation to identify anomalies and out-of-date provisions0.41
Assessing impacts, financial implications, interactions with other programmes and political and administrative feasibility of policies0.39
Liaising and consulting with programme administrators and other interested parties to identify policy needs0.31

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for policy administration professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).