26 November 2009 | Carly Chynoweth

Procurement is not doing a good job of attracting talent into the profession, according to two-thirds of buyers quizzed in the latest Supply Management survey.

Most respondents to the SM100 poll said purchasing needs to improve its image with potential entrants such as graduates and school-leavers.

Young people would be more likely to consider a career in procurement if they were aware of the opportunities it offers for travel and involvement in major business decisions, they said.

Reducing the amount of jargon, ensuring salaries are in line with other business areas such as legal and finance, and raising the profile of purchasing within organisations would also help, buyers added.

Of the 33 per cent who believe the profession is good at persuading talented people to pursue purchasing careers cited the emergence of board-level roles and clear professional development structures as two significant positives in this area.