SALT LAKE CITY, JUNE 12,2024 – The School of Business at Western Governors University is offering a new Supply Chain Certificate to help fill a void within the field caused by the increased complexity of supply chains, growing importance of sustainability, and need for innovation and ever-changing technology.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data and industry trends strongly suggest significant, faster-than-average growth for various positions within the supply chain field between 2022 and 2032. For example, jobs for logisticians are expected to grow by 18%. According to a recent survey by MHI, an international trade association that represents the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry, executives say two top supply chain challenges are talent shortage and customer demands.

According to Zippia, the role of supply chain coordinator is expected to grow 28% between 2018 and 2028. Between January 2022 and September 2023 there were more than 136,000 job postings for “Supply Chain Coordinator” across more than 19,000 employers. These postings span industries such as manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, technology, finance, retail, utilities and healthcare. In addition to industry growth, a 2021 Workstep report described "lack of career growth” as the top contributor to employee turnover among front-line supply chain workers.

“Looking back to the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic when store shelves were empty underscores how dysfunction in a supply chain can affect people, families and businesses and the critical need for more qualified workers in the field,” said Mitsu Frazier, senior vice president and executive dean, WGU School of Business. “The WGU School of Business Supply Chain Certificate program can help workers access roles with greater resilience, higher pay and a career trajectory.”

The WGU Supply Chain Certificate program creates a pathway to entry-level and front-line supply chain coordinator roles of greater resiliency and impact. Through the program, workers in entry-level supply chain roles, like warehousing or logistics, who do not have a college degree can earn critical skills needed to take on increased responsibility or front-line leadership roles. For degree-holders who are not already working in supply chain industry, but looking for a career change, the certificate provides an on-ramp to entry-level positions.

The certificate curriculum begins with a series of core concepts, including operations management, purchasing and procurement, inventory management and warehousing. Additional curriculum on supply chain planning, project management, problem solving and managing supply chain disruptions equips students to lead teams. 

Through targeted skill-building in areas critical to supply chain, graduates can launch new career paths in logistics, operations, supply chain planning or distribution and warehouse management. For those already working in the supply chain field, this certificate offers an additional layer of auditing, management and supply chain planning needed to step up to a new role or step into first-time team leadership or management.

The Supply Chain Certificate program includes four courses, which are transferrable into the Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain and Operations Management with the WGU School of Business should students decide to pursue a full degree program later.

“Up-skilling opportunities, like through the Supply Chain Certificate program with the WGU School of Business, help employees to be ready for their next role while also incentivizing employees to stay and grow within their current role. For employers, promoting strong performers into roles of greater impact reduces turnover, saves money and provides a predictable career path through skill building and targeted investment in employees,” said Rodolfo Santamaria, lead academic program manager, WGU School of Business.

About the WGU School of Business

The WGU School of Business offers career-aligned, affordable programs designed to give students the future-focused skills they need to lead and thrive at the speed of today’s business world. The School of Business offers 15 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and three certificate programs. The school currently serves roughly 50,000 students across the United States and has conferred more than 100,000 business degrees since 2002.