What Do Demand Planners Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for demand planners?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what demand planners do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Demand Planners Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about demand planners by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Demand Planners analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.
Popular Job Titles For Demand Planners
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Logistics Coordinators
- Supply Chain Analysts
- Production Planners
- Supply Chain Associates
- Logistics Specialists
- Logistics Analysts
- Material Coordinators
- Supply Chain Specialists
- Demand Planners
- Inventory Analysts
- Planners/Schedulers
- Transportation Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for demand planners can be found.
Best Industries for Demand Planners
Demand Planners Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 14.9%
- Federal Government, Military: 10.2%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 8.5%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 5.7%
- Freight Transportation Arrangement: 3.5%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 3.1%
- Other: 54.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of demand planners can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 14.9% of all jobs for demand planners were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Federal Government, Military (10.2%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.5%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5.7%), Freight Transportation Arrangement (3.5%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3.1%).
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Degree Options for Demand Planners
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Demand Planners Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what demand planners do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work demand planners do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that demand planners tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for demand planners, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Demand Planners
Based on 152,047 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Demand Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Demand Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
Based on 152,047 job postings related to demand planners, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for logistics, purchasing, inventory management, warehousing and procurement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for demand planners, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
| Procurement | 24,473 | 16% |
| SAP Applications | 22,087 | 15% |
| Supply Chain Management | 20,430 | 13% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 20,213 | 13% |
| Project Management | 17,221 | 11% |
| Marketing | 14,332 | 9% |
| Finance | 13,879 | 9% |
| Process Improvement | 13,663 | 9% |
| Auditing | 13,573 | 9% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 13,494 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 13,161 | 9% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 13,106 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 12,891 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 12,662 | 8% |
| Inventory Control | 12,499 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
| Microsoft Excel | 41,948 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 37,065 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 36,254 | 24% |
| Sales | 35,156 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 32,092 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 25,928 | 17% |
| Leadership | 25,286 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 24,445 | 16% |
| Forecasting | 19,981 | 13% |
| Writing | 19,976 | 13% |
| Computer Literacy | 19,669 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 18,859 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 18,168 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 17,668 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 16,625 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Demand Planners
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was logistics coordinators, with 8,817 unique job postings. Supply chain analysts were second, with 5,145 postings, followed by production planners, supply chain associates and logistics specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to demand planners.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
| Logistics Analysts | 10,443 | 6.7% |
| Material Coordinators | 8,313 | 5.3% |
| Supply Chain Specialists | 7,041 | 4.5% |
| Demand Planners | 6,679 | 4.3% |
| Inventory Analysts | 4,944 | 3.2% |
| Planners/Schedulers | 4,747 | 3.1% |
| Transportation Coordinators | 4,930 | 3.2% |
| Material Planners | 4,642 | 3% |
| Delivery Coordinators | 5,841 | 3.8% |
| Supply Chain Planners | 3,860 | 2.5% |
| Supply Chain Coordinators | 4,294 | 2.8% |
| Supply Planners | 3,190 | 2.1% |
| Logistics Associates | 3,441 | 2.2% |
| Distribution Specialists | 3,258 | 2.1% |
| Materials Planners | 2,471 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for demand planners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for demand planners.
How much do demand planners make?
Demand Planners: How do you become one?
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